Ban of all forms of occupation on campus made clear in new university guidelines
out on campus, and - most alarmingly - an outright ban on all forms of encampment and occupation. Breaches of these rules will lead to disciplinary action for staff and students alike.
EXEPOSÉ has recently been made aware of upcoming changes to the demonstrations and protests guidelines to be implemented by the University, which would entail a number of limitations on student activism. Although the changes have not been made public yet (at the time of writing the University website still outlines the policy from 2024), they have been emailed individually to several student activist groups, such as Exeter Youth Demand and Exeter Liberation Encampment for Palestine.
The guidelines have caused an uproar of concerns over some key points which seem to target contentious current events. These include: the University and Guild’s pre-approval of all demonstrations inside university buildings, the ban of megaphones and musical instruments in inside spaces, the approval of all leaflet and poster content being handed
A spokesperson from the university wanted to highlight that the ban on occupation was not a change from the previous protesting guidelines. However, Exeposé could find no reference to the university’s stance on occupation in their previous protest guidelines. Dubbed “Draconian” by ELE4PAL, the crackdown’s biggest criticism is the lack of transparency and democratic discussion and consultation in making these decisions, as well as the consequences it will trigger for encampments set up in protest of the Palestinian genocide.
A year ago, ELE4PAL set up their encampment on the Queen’s Drive green to demand that the University boycott any involvement with Israeli universities and research. This is not an unusual sight nowadays, as protests focused on occupying university grounds are not unique to Exeter, and ELE4PAL are only the latest student group amongst many in the country to partake in protesting this way.
Despite this, the ELE4PAL encampment seems to be the last straw for the university as these changes are brought in. ELE4PAL and Youth Demand both claim that they have been in contact with “key figures at the university, such as the senate, the UCU and student societies, none of which were notified or took part in the decisions to bring these new guidelines in”.
In their new policy, the University states that they reserve the rights to “alter the manner, location or timing of the protest if [the protest] is likely to impact the core functions of the university”. The student Guild have reinforced this message in a statement made to Exeposé . A spokesperson said: “The Guild has a long history of supporting student activism — it’s part of who we are. Peaceful protest is a human right, and as your Students’ Guild, we’re here to support you to use your voice to campaign for change and stand up for what you believe in”. After this, they reiterated their legal responsibilities and safeguarding rules that are outlined in the protesting guidelines before saying that “Recent updates to the policy focus on managing noise
levels to help maintain a supportive learning environment for everyone”.
In response to this, ELE4PAL criticises the changes as “a crackdown on the student (and staff) voice, aimed at trying to scare us into compliance, so ‘business as usual’ can continue at the university”.
Under UK and European law, everyone has the right to protest and be protected by police and law enforcement while doing so. However, protesting on private property is not a protected right, and pursuing legal action is up to the discretion of the owner. As a result of this, the University of Exeter is within their legal rights to limit and decide how campus-based protests take place, even if this works against students’ wishes. This key point is highlighted by the University in both the old and updated versions of the protest guidelines.
Continued on page 4
Image: Harry Craig
Editors
Print: Kayleigh Swart and Emily Sara Rizzo
Online: Harry Morrison and Zandie Howells
Print Deputies: Amberly Wright, Lauren Walsh, and Nina Exton Online Deputies: Michelle Chung and Daniel Grayshon editors@exepose.com
News Editors
Print: Kayleigh Swart
Online: Zandie Howells news@exepose.com
Features Editors
Print: Ria Brown-Aryee and Bethany Last Online: Michelle Chung features@exepose.com
Climate Editors
Print: Amberly Wright Online: Freddy Purcell
Comment Editors
Print: Tom Richardson and Lucas Eley Online: Harry Morrison comment@exepose.com
Satire
Lifestyle Editors
Print: Yasmine Al-Saket and Betsy Heasman Online: Isabella Yates lifestyle@exepose.com
Arts
Print: Isabel Bratt and Amber Platel
Online: Brook Cheadle artsandlit@exepose.com
Music Editors
Print: Sarah Gould
Online Amelie Marah and Maya Dallal music@exepose.com
Screen Editors
Print: Beth Casey Online Zandie Howells screen@exepose.com
International Editors
Print: Jed Gibbins and Antoni Kaldunski Online: Anoushka Dutta
Sci-Tech Editors Print: Julia Szewczyk Online Harry Morrison sciandtech@exepose.com
Sport Editors
Print: Annabel Gowling Online: Connor Myers sport@exepose.com
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Editorial
It is our last issue for the academic year, and we’re so incredibly excited to welcome in our new committee. We want to give a massive thanks to the previous committee. Especially Gracie and Amy who have worked so hard this previous year and made this edition possible. Exeposé’s new committee is made up from both new and familiar faces, and we can’t wait for the incredible year that lies ahead of us..
As ever, if there's an important issue at the University or in Exeter we've missed, please email us at editors@exepose.com. In this issue, News covers the changes to protest policy (Page 1), discusses Exefest and student band culture (Page 3), explores graduate visa changes (Page 5) and more.
Climate celebrates David Attenborough's 99th birthday (Page 10) and Comment discusses rainbow washing (Page 13). Elsewhere, Satire celebrates Napoleon's graduation (Page 14). Over in Exhibit, Lifestyle are discussing the recent nokia nostalgia (Page 17) and Music share how Taylor Swift brought back her masters (Page 20). Screen writers review the latest TV (Page 23) while Exetera Exetera... delve into the archieves once again (Page 24). Finally, Sport highlight how climate change will affect the industry (Page 31) .
Despite the fact we’re about 11,000 miles apart, this issue still managed to happen. This wouldn’t be possible without help from our new editors — thank you for all the hard work you’ve put in, in these last two weeks. If you have any questions about
joining the paper next year, please check out our socials @exepose. We hope you enjoy reading this issue and a huge thank you to all our writers, editors and proofers!
Emily and Kayleigh
University news home and abroad
UK MP calls for universities to be set up in small cities and towns
THE Conservative MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, Jesse Norman, has named 50 small cities and towns in the UK which are currently lacking a university. The MP has further identified issues of access and stated that setting up new campuses, even ones smaller in size, could be “a catalyst for economic growth”.
The MP later elaborated that he has met with some of his constituents who have graduated from a local institution, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering in Hereford, whom he described as having “hands-on skill of an apprenticeship, but also the rigour of a master’s degree”, highlighting that the lack of access to a local university is hindering their education.
New Zealand Universities facing new STEM focused budget Japan universities set quotas for women in STEM
UNIVERSITIES in New Zealand seem to be hitting financial difficulties and are reportedly relying on increasing enrolment to keep afloat. However, staff are now worried about increasing pressures they’re facing.
His comments follow a significant number of redundancies at multiple universities around the country this academic year, with the job cuts themselves seeking to reduce costs spent on labour and salaries.
A new funding package for universities has been announced by the government, this will allow the previous government’s emergency four per cent boost to enrolment subsidies to lapse at the start of next year. Universities across New Zealand warm that this would be catastrophic. Now universities are using increased enrolment to try and cut down on financial pressure. Enrolment numbers have been fluctuating since the Covid-19 pandemic and the years following it, however domestic numbers have risen in the last year. In addition to this, international enrolment has returned to pre-pandemic numbers (as reported by University World News). Student fees are also set to be allowed to increase by six per cent. However, subsides are set to be made for courses following STEM subjects, allowing teaching in these areas to increase, while other fields such as humanities get left behind.
AT the end of May, the Japanese Ministry of Education announced it would create a special admissions quota for female students to undertake degrees in STEM subjects. This aims to address gender imbalance in STEM participation and act against Japan’s previous “abysmal” record of female participation in STEM —currently, approximately 7% of those enrolled in STEM degrees in Japan are women. Currently, the proportion of female entrants to STEM programmes ranges from 10% to 30%. At the beginning of this academic year, more than 30 private and public universities in Japan adopted a special admis sions quota for women in STEM — a significant increase from 2024, when only 14 universities offered such a scheme.
Other proposals for increased accessibility to STEM degrees include changes to traditional admis sions processes and introducing broader forms of entrance examinations. Japan is facing an estimated shortfall of almost 50,000 data science professionals by 2030 –improving accessibility of science degrees and engaging talent from all backgrounds is an important step in resolving this gap.
Judge halts ban on Harvard recruiting international students
Harvard's ongoing legal battle with the Trump administration continues, as on May 22, 2025, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the Harvard University Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, revoking its right to enrol international students. However, this was blocked by the judge, Allison D Burroughs, who issued a temporary restraining order against this directive agreeing with Harvard that this would cause “immediate and irreparable injury” to their institution, given international students account for 27.3% of its student body and their tuition are an important source of income for the university. In a letter to members of the Harvard community, the university’s president, Alan M Garber, described this federal edict as a part of “the federal government’s illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body.”. This lawsuit has raised concerns about America's attractiveness to international students.
By Magdalena Kanecka, Kayleigh Swart, Rosie Batsford, Ria Brown-Aryee
Proofers: Kayleigh Swart and Amberly Wright
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In conversation with The PHD: Exefest, music memberships and Exeter’s band scene
ties for guests to partake in throughout the three days.
BETWEEN the 30th of May and the 1st of June, the Student Guild put on one of their biggest events of the academic year — Exefest. The summer months are normally lined with festivals across the country and the University of Exeter is not exempt from the desire to listen to music under the sun.
Exefest is the Guild’s version of a music festival, tailored to students. It spanned across three days and involved many student bands and performers who took the stage to showcase their talents. The event also offered other games and activi -
Exefest reportedly featured more than sixty students performing across the weekend.
Despite the often correct reputation of Exeter being a primarily sports university, it often doesn’t get credit for how the university allows musical talent to flourish
The days were split into performance type. Friday was reserved for dance societies such as the K-Pop society and the Folk society. Saturday was given to individual artists and Sunday, perhaps their biggest day, was for student bands. Despite the, often correct, reputation of Exeter being a primarily sports university, it often doesn’t get credit
which cost £12.50 for the year and allows students to access practice spaces, equipment and tech. They also discussed the different events put on by the Guild and University, such as campus bands jam which often have “good turn outs”. They also spoke about how “Exefest and Music Mondays at the ram are a really great way for new bands to gain some initial live experience before going out to play somewhere in the city”.
for how the university allows musical talent to flourish.
Exeposé had the privilege to talk to one of the performers at Exefest about their experience — the band ‘The PHD’. The PHD are a student band, made up of three performers who recently won battle of the bands. When asked, they praised Exefest, saying “It was a really nice opportunity to see our friends play, with such a range of genres”. They also highlighted how they loved performing for everyone who came to watch.
The Student Guild is home to a countless number of societies that fit under the music category. From all their different types of bands, to dance societies, all the way to musical theatre groups; there is something for all students who have an interest in music. The university also offers practice spaces for those who want to use them. When asked about this event, a spokesperson from the Guild commented saying: “We’re proud to champion our student musicians and performers, whether they’re stepping on stage for the first time or playing to a packed crowd. Through opportunities like Exefest, our societies, music membership programme and dedicated support, we help students grow their confidence, find their audience, and feel part of something bigger.
We asked The PHD if they believe the university helps encourage student performers and they couldn’t be more enthusiastic with their reply. They brought up how the university offers music membership
Speaking of the City of Exeter — the student performer experience is not limited to just university events. Exeter city provides a range of opportunities for bands and performers to get up on stage and perform. The PHD highlighted the strong band culture in Exeter and shared their favourite places to perform throughout the city: “Shows put on at the old firehouse by one of the former campus bands presidents are a really great tight-knit thing with a lot of new bands and there is always something happening in Exeter”. To give some context, the former campus bands president is in charge of a group called The Exe gig collective. They work with young musicians separate from the university. They primarily work with the old firehouse and advocate for fair payment and treatment for young musicians.
University life often provides students an opportunity to try new things, discover new hobbies and make new friends. We asked the PHD if
they thought being in a band affected their university experience and they said that their band experience improved their time at university. “We have a lot of fun, sharing our love for music together, writing songs and making some friends for life. It’s the kind of thing more people should do as there’s a lot of musical talent out there that never leaves people’s bedrooms”. This idea has been shared by other students too. We spoke to one student, set to graduate in July, who has started a band of his own in the last few months. He said that he wished he had gotten involved with it sooner. He expressed that he is “Having so much fun with it at the moment”.
He said that he wished he had gotten involved with it sooner. He expressed that he is ‘having so much fun with it at the moment’
If you have missed the opportunity to get involved with any events this year, a new academic year is on the horizon. With welcome week approaching soon, more music events and opportunities are expected to be revealed soon. Exeter offers such a wide range of ways to take part in the music scene, that are open to everyone who wants to get involved with it.
Kayleigh Swart Editor-in-Chief
Image: The PHD, performing at the old firehouse
Image: Student Guild
Image: Student Guild
“It
goes against the very idea of free speech” says Youth Demand
Continued from the front page
YOUTH Demand has also raised concerns regarding the University’s final say on demonstrations. “Protest is about resistance and forcing us to seek permission to criticise the university means they can silence us whenever they like”. They add that these changes are “A serious threat to our ability to stand up for what we believe in and hold the university to account”. Youth Demand are a ‘non-violent civil resistance group’ that have sub-groups across the country. At the end of their statement ELE4PAL insisted that “this will affect all of us, not just ELE4PAL, but all students and staff and their right to protest on university grounds. We all must have a voice; we cannot let the
university take it away from us. We will not back down”. Similarly, Youth Demand insists “protesting is a vital part of a healthy democracy. It gives us a chance to raise our voices for those who are often ignored, especially in our fight for Palestinian freedom and climate justice.”
Within these guidelines the university state that "The right to lawful protest and free expression are not without constraints and must be balanced with the rights of all members of our community".
Their 'Freedom of speech' policy in linked in the guidelines and signed by the university, the student's guild and student union. However, Youth Demand suggest that these new modifications "goes against the very idea of free speech and the ability to hold power to account".
In a statement from the university, a spokesperson has reiterated that: "While we promote a culture of debate, built on the principle of tolerance of different views and beliefs, we ask those taking part in planned protests to be mindful of other campus users, and not disrupt or prevent day-to-day events at the University taking place. The guidelines relating to holding protests on campus reflect this and are updated accordingly based on feedback and as necessary."
These guideline modifications pose a critical question: where is the limit between guaranteeing student and staff safety on the University’s campus, and silencing expressions of discontent and the essential voicing of injustices at home and world-wide.
New nursing degree approved offering more student choice
Kayleigh Swart Editor-in-Chief
THE University of Exeter has recently announced that a new option for nursing students has been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This new course option will allow students to graduate as a fully qualified nurse in just three years.
The current nursing programme that the university offers is a fouryear long master’s course. While the university will still offer this, they have added a new Bachelor of Science degree in adult nursing, which will take only three years.
All the current nursing courses offered at the university have been re-
designed by the Exeter of Academy of Nursing. They have designed the course so everyone studying nursing will follow the same content in years one and two but will then diverge in year three. The four-year course is meant to give students training in higher-level skills that are used in the NHS and social care settings. Victoria Sadler, the programme lead in the Academy of Nursing has said: “We’re delighted that our ambitious new programme has been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This evidences that our education and training continues to be extremely high quality, fulfilling the needs of the NHS and social care. Our new undergraduate BSc programme offers a shorter route to becom -
ing a Registered Nurse. This means more choice, to ensure students from a wide range of backgrounds and with different needs have options to upskill with us at Exeter.”
This change comes at a time where the level of students joining nursing courses is decreasing
This change comes at a time where the level of students joining nursing courses is decreasing. The Nursing Times reports that nursing intake hit its peak in 2021, and in 2024 the intake took a 21 per cent decrease. The new course option will have its first intake this September.
Runners Dissapointed by Great West Run cut-off
Amberly Wright Deputy Editor
ON the 25th of May 2025, over 400 participants took to the scenic streets of Exeter and surroundings, to run the Great West Run, an annual half marathon event. The first male, and first runner, completed the event in 1 hour and 10 minutes, with the first female crossing the line 7 minutes later. As well as female and male categories, the event includes a category for those identifying as non-binary.
However, despite the inclusion of a non-binary gender category, The Great West Run failed to meet runners’ expectations throughout
the course. At the bottom of university hill, a cut off was put in place around the 2 hour and 30 minutes mark, according to participants, forcing runners after this time to complete the 10km course, instead of the half marathon that they had originally signed up, and trained, for.
The Great West Run failed to meet runners’ expectations throughout the course
The event organisers told DevonLive that they are “aware that a smaller number of runners were affected by the incorrect implementation of a course cut off, it was put in place ear-
lier than scheduled.” Runners and their families have been left feeling upset and confused, as many participants who were running with, or in front of, pacers were not allowed to complete the full course, leaving the inclusion of a pacer to be deemed pointless. If you feel inspired by the efforts of this year’s participants, you can enter the race now, on their website, and start training for the event, which will take place on the 24th May 2026. There are many charities that you can raise money for, including as Force, a cancer charity and the official partner charity, Age UK, who are committed to shifting the harmful narrative of ageing, and Devon Air Ambulance, who bring critical care to those in need.
Image: Livvy Mason-Myhill
Image: University of Exeter
Image: libreshot
Government change to international student VISAs
Kayleigh Swart, Amberly Wright Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor
THE current UK government has just unveiled the latest update to the graduate Vias programme. The main change being made would be to cut down the current time international students are allowed to stay in the UK searching for a job. Currently international students can live in the UK for twenty-four months after graduating to look for a job and work. However, the change would cut this time down to eighteen months. While the change may seem small, it has stirred up some anxiety among students who fear how they may be affected.
This change would cut down this time down to eighteen months
It should be noted that there are two common routes that international students can go down to gain a visa to work in the UK. A graduate visa allows international students to work in any job or sector without limitations. However, a skilled work visa, which is often a more permanent visa, requires sponsorship from a company and had stricter guidelines.
Around 23 per cent of students at the University of Exeter have international status, which also means they pay international fees. Their tuition fees bring in a great deal of money to the university. In the last year many universities have been struggling financially, departments are being cuts and staff loosing jobs. Now there is increased anxiety amoung students about if giving international students less of a reason to study in the UK will only worsen the universities financial problems.
We spoke to some students about
these changes and their thoughts surrounding what will happen. Out of the students that answered our survey, 60% were international students, however, only 1/3 of these students were aware of the plans to cut down the length of time international graduates can stay in the UK. When asked if the change is fair, 4 in 5 answered no.
60% were international students, however, only 1/3 of these studets were aware of the plans to cut down the length of time international graduates can stay in the UK
There were many different views regarding how the changes will affect universities. Some students answered that there would be a lower student satisfaction university-wide, due to international students not being able to get the jobs that they had previously hoped for when coming to the UK for university. There were also concerns about a decrease in international students in the future, as there are less incentives for them to move their lives to the UK. This concern was echoed by 80% who answered yes to the question: will the change encourage fewer international students to come to the UK to study.
In the 2023/24 academic year that were just under seven thousand students paying international fees to the university of Exeter. While it is hard to estimate the amount of money international students bring to the university due to the differences in tuition fees depending on subject, we have taken the lowest possible tuition fees for international students to look at the next figure.
For the 2025/26 year, looking at the lowest amount international students can pay (£24,700 per year), and assuming the number of international students will be similar
as years before, the university will be making, at minimum, 170 million pounds from their tuition alone.
This decision comes at a time where many universities are struggling financially. The BBC reports that more than four in ten universities in England are expected to be in a financial deficit by this summer. Jo Grady, the general secretary of the University and College Union said that “Over 10,000 jobs are already set to disappear from the sector”.
Two thirds of the international students we spoke to said that if they had been made aware of these changes prior to their decision to come study to the UK they would have considered other options. However, one international student we spoke to said that eighteen months was enough time to find a job, so we wanted to investigate that claim.
Job hunting can be a struggle for all graduates. Prospects Luminate report that in the graduating class of 2022, only fifty-nine per cent of graduates were in full time employment fifteen months after finishing their studies. While the graduate visa is being cut down, there is still of course the skilled worker visa option for international students. However, changes are being made to this program too. While an exact amount hasn’t been specified, the government have proposed to increase the salary threshold needed for those on this type of visa. In addition, ‘Middle-skilled’ jobs will only qualify for temporary visas
under restricted conditions.
We spoke to a recent graduate of the university of Exeter who chose to follow the skilled worker visa route. He said "trying to find a job that pays enough to meet VISA requirements, is willing to sponsor me, and is in my desired sector has proven incredible difficult. I lived in the UK for 3 years before having to apply, and it was one of the most stressful things I have had to do". In the end it took him almost a year of full time job hunting to find a place to work under the visa conditions.
“Another
decision made about students, without students”
We spoke to the University of Exeter Student Guild about the changes, and they said that "The proposed changes to the graduate visa scheme are deeply worryingand feel like another decision made about students without students". They feel that "international students give so much to Exeter and the wider UK, culturally, academically, and financially. Our campuses are enriches when people make friends from groups they may be unfamiliar with, who they wouldnt have met any other way. Its part of building a better world".
They went on to say "the graduate visa is not just about staying in the UK, it is part of the promise made to inernational student, to invest part of their life here, that thy can use what they have learnt to give back and gain experience."
“Leading to safety and discrimination issues”
If you are an international student, or a student with concerns
about the changes you can reach out to the Students Guild. They are "hearing from recent graduates who followed the graduate visa route and feel let down, as well as from current students, asking whether the UK is still a welcoming place to build their future. Framing students as part of the problem distracts rom the real issues, leading to saftey and discrimination issues." They are teaming up with other Russel Group Student unions, and the NUS to "take your voice stright to parliment, bringing real stories, hard data, and pushing for meaningful change. International students deserve a real chance to succeed, not shifting the goal posts after they have already invested in us.
A spokesperson from the University of Exeter reitterated the Student Guild's concerns. They said "international students bring a vast array of social, cultural, and economic benefits to the UK, and should be made to feel both welcome and valued. In Exeter, for example, international student income alone, is the city's number one export, accounting for almost 16% of exports, which reflects how important international stuents are for the local economy and employment. It is vital that universities in the UK remain attractive to international students and staff, and continue to support skills and economic growth."
The future of graduate visas and international students remains unknown, but it is clear that student and staff alike do not want to give up without a fight.
Image: Kayleigh Swart
Image:JESSICA TAYLOR Flickr
Topsham farm shop ranked alongside Harrods
Harry Morrison Online Editor-in-Chief
DARTS Farm, a local farm food hall in Topsham, has been identified as one of the best nationwide. Recognised for more than just its farm shop, the business’s premise includes a plethora of areas that have enabled the critical success of this Devon Farm.
Opened in the 1970s by Ronald Dart as one of Britain’s first pick-your-own businesses, with a direct farm-to-table strategy, it was then labelled Pic Fresh. Since his passing, Ronald’s sons Michael, James and Paul have continued his legacy, expanding it to new heights.
The modern-day basis of Dart’s Farm not
only includes their multi-awardwinning food hall, but also an artisan school, wellness spa, fishing ponds, play areas, nature walks and numerous eateries.
It is this modern business model that has allowed critics such as Nick Wyke, Digital Food and Drink Editor at The Times, to exclaim, “I have seen the future of food shopping and it’s not in London, Manchester or Edinburgh but on a road that runs alongside the Exe Estuary in Devon, a few miles south of Exeter.”
What makes their food hall so unique? Their focus on high quality, local and homemade and grown produce
What makes their Food Hall so unique? Their focus is on high-qual-
ity, local and homemade and grown produce. East Devon Excellence has noted that ‘their food hall is filled with hundreds of hand-picked local and artisan suppliers; the best Westcountry cheeses, incredible artisan breads, pastries and pies, luxury local wines, craft beers and much more!’ Sustainability is another factor, with their master butchers using either their own Ruby Red Cattle or locally sourced animals, using only traditional butchering techniques that ensure minimal waste.
From the plethora of aspects within the business, the company won the Farm Retail Awards in 2025, winning Best Farm Shop and Best Farm Restaurant for their Farm Table.
Only a train journey away, or a 25-minute drive for those who drive, Dart’s Farm should be on every Exeter student’s list of exploring the best of what Devon has to offer.
Science minister announces world-leading research hub led by UOE
Walsh Deputy Editor
THE University of Exeter has been chosen to host a pioneering programme called the MetaHub, which was announced when Science Minister Lord Vallance visited the university’s Streatham Campus on the 23rd of May.
Lord Vallance said, “Our backing for the MetaHub is an investment, for both today and for tomorrow. We are securing the UK’s leadership in the high-potential field of metamaterials, a new class of materials specially engineered to have new and useful properties. This work is paving the way for future products and innovations that will deliver jobs
and growth, in the years ahead.”
The MetaHub will focus on research into the emerging field of ‘nanoscale metamaterials’, new 3D engineered materials, designed on a molecular scale allowing for structures much smaller than can be found in nature. The project has attracted interest from security firms to drinks company PepsiCo, parent company of brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew and more, as the variety of applications range from computer components and radio transmitters to healthier food colourings.
In addition to £4.5 million in private investment, the funding also consists of £10.5 million from UK Research and Innovation, and £4.65 million from the University of Exeter and other higher education institu-
tions, all-in-all totaling £19.6 million.
The project has attracted interest from security firms to drinks company PepsiCo, parent company of brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew and more
Professor Alastair Hibbins will direct the MetaHub, working alongside a team of scientists from top universities around the country. About the project, he said, “Underpinning all of our activities will be the drive to ensure the materials we design and build are sustainable, and that the technology we develop and commercialise, will solve global challenges in health, energy, communication, computing and environmental sensing.”
Protests erupt through Devon and Cornwall
Kayleigh Swart Editor-In-Chief
HUNDREDS of people gathered in Plymouth, Exeter and Truro as part of the Great British National Strike. The strike was set to happen across the entire country, being organised by Ex-British-Solider Richard Donaldson. The aim of the protest was to bring attention to far-right ideas such as anti-immigration views. They also criticised the current Labour government, run by Keir Starmer. In Exeter around two-hundred people gathered at midday on the cathedral green and the atmosphere was described as tense. Pro-
testors were seen holding up Union Jack flags. Counter-protestors also showed up and the entire protest had reportedly dispersed by onethirty. In Plymouth a similar number of protestors and counter-protesters showed up. The protesters seemed to be feeling betrayed by the current government, some of them chanting ‘Starmer out’. However, in Truro only a few people showed.
The Devon and Cornwall police said that a total of forty public order officers were involved across the three cities. While they said that there were a few isolated incidents, most of the protestors were adhering to police advice and orders.
These protests sparked up around all around the country, yet they seemed
to be smaller than originally anticipated. The biggest protest happened in London, outside Downing Street, but some of the protests in smaller areas only had a few people attending. These protests come in a time where right-wing ideas are surging in popularity across the world. The political party Reform UK has recently made big gains in local elections, which has thrown off the balance of the traditional twoparty system where Labour and Conservatives sit in the majorities.
The protests seemed to be smaller than originally anticipated
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Lauren
Image: University of Exeter
Image: Derek Harper, Wikimedia Commons
Image: Julian P Guffogg Wikimedia Commons
Trump’s attack on Harvard university
Isabella Brooks, delves into tensions growing between the US government and universities
IN May 2025 the US department of Homeland Security blocked Harvard’s ability to enrol foreign students and threatened to revoke billions of dollars of federal grants. The government’s attack on Harvard is part of a broader attempt by the Trump administration to influence US universities’ policies on free speech; diversity, equality and inclusion; hiring, and admissions by putting conditional controls on international student enrolment, federal financing and the tax treatment of universities. The legal status of international students
The legal status of i nternational students at over 80 universities and colleges in the US have been challenged by administration’s officials
at over 80 universities and colleges in the US have been challenged by the administration’s officials at the US State Department. At least 57 visas have been revoked since January 2025. Trump in recent comments said that Harvard should have a ‘cap of around 15 per cent’ on foreign students. In a White House press conference he stated that ‘Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect and all they’re doing is getting in deeper and deeper’. Harvard issued a statement in response, arguing that the ban would damage ‘the educational experience
Iof all Harvard students by diminishing the global character and overall strength of the institution’.
The Trump administration’s attacks on US universities’ autonomy began in January, when it vowed to shut down pro-Palestinian pro -
In February, the US Department of Justice launched a task force to ‘root out antisemitic harassment in schools and on college campuses’ and the Trump administration cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, accusing it
tests and remove what it calls ‘woke ideology’ on college campuses. Administration officials have rationalised their attacks by accusing several universities of tolerating antisemitism and accusing Harvard of working with the Chinese Communist Party. The government has not presented any evidence for these claims.
porting antisemitism. On April 11th, Harvard received a letter from the Trump administration, stating that its level of education was not up to standards, along with a list of demands that included reducing the power of students and staff over university policies and shutting down diversity, equality and inclusion programmes.
Eurovision: politics or people
Harvard rejected the demands, leading the US administration to announce an immediate freeze on funding, including $2.2 billion in federal research funding. On April 15th Trump posted on Truth Social that “Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status”. The following day the Department of Homeland Security called on Harvard to turn over records on any foreign students’ ‘illegal and violent activities’ and demanded extensive documentation from the university including the coursework of every international student.
On April 21st, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of violating the First Amendment of the US constitution and targeting it as part of a political crusade.
The hearing on the case took place on May 29th, with federal judge Allison Burroughs issuing a temporary order preventing the Trump administration from blocking Harvard’s ability to enrol international students. The Trump administration, however, has vowed to continue to pursue other ways to bar international students from enrolling and to continue to use its control of federal grants and tax policy to influence university policies.
Harvard University’s fight against the Trump administration is far from over and its outcome will have implications not just for the university, but for all US universities and academic freedom in the United States more broadly.
Emily Sara Rizzo, Editor-in-Chief, evaluates the politics behind the beloved song contest
T is hardly worth trying to deny that the Eurovision Song Contest — determinedly “apolitical,” according to its spokespeople — is possibly one of the most political, and, often, highly controversial broadcasts issued across Europe. While this has been true for at least a decade, tensions seem to be edging ever closer to boiling point with the 69th edition — hosted in Basel by Switzerland — in which Israel narrowly missed winning first place, as well as garnering the highest number of public votes.
Often, the inevitable tangle between European politics and the Eurovision Song Contest are laughed off good-naturedly, especially when it comes to the televote — such as the not-so-strange tradition of the UK’s dismal amount of public votes after Brexit, or the obvious sympathies between countries. However, where matters of full-scale war and humanitarian breaches are concerned, you’d think the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) would take more serious measures.
Since the EBU’s outright ban on Russia’s involvement in 2022, following their invasion of Ukraine, many viewers expressed thought that the same fate awaited Israel and yet humanitarian activists are still fighting for this to occur. Protesters both on the streets of Basel and behind the scenes of the Song Con -
test have been demanding Israel’s expulsion, as the genocide in Gaza rages, and the death count rises past the thousands with new Israeli blockades on humanitarian and food aid.
Protesters have been demanding Israel’s expulsion
Controversies raged even in the run-up to last year’s Song Contest, hosted in Malmo by Sweden, as Israel’s Eden Golan was made to modify the lyrics for her entry, “October Rain,” which seemingly referred to the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel. The political content led the EBU to consider disqualifying her com -
pletely; a quick revision, though, and the country went ahead to perform, despite a petition on behalf of Scandinavian musicians, and the ever more vocal protests.
This year’s performer for Israel, Yuval Raphael, is a survivor of the October 7th attack, having had to hide under the bodies of fallen victims before being rescued — allegedly providing the inspiration for her song “New Day Will Rise.” It seemed more than plausible that this message would be lost, however, amid the politicisation of her country’s crimes, but the televote results lead us to ask if the public focused on her personal ordeal and the sympathy could engender.
While the EBU continues to insist that they could not disqualify Israel on the basis that the
country is not under Western sanctions, and furthermore that the Israeli state broadcaster on the EBU team is independent (unlike the Russian broadcaster), what is more surprising and concerning is the public backing that Israel received during the Contest. While this year’s winner— Austria’s JJ — gathered 178 public votes, Raphael received 297, leading some to question if the votes were bought, or if the insistence of biased media from major outlets (European and otherwise) may have brainwashed the general public into believing a narrative perpetuated by state governments who like to keep their involvement in the Palestinian genocide hidden.
Leading some to question is the votes were brought
Whatever the reason, Israel will not be hosting the Eurovision Song Contest just yet, but if the trend for its copious public backing continues, we can only wonder how much longer it will be until they do.
The US refugee policy excludes vulnerable individuals
Kayleigh Swart, Editor-in-Chief, discusses the implications of the US refugee policy
SINCE the Trump administration came into power in January, many changes have been made to American policies, especially to immigration laws. For example, the recent suspension of the US refugee programme has come into effect, and it is estimated by the BBC that 120,000 refugees, who were conditionally approved to enter the US, are now waiting in limbo.
120,000 refugees who were conditionally approved to enter the US are now waiting in Limbo
Throughout his election campaign, Trump insisted that he would be putting America’s interests first, as most are familiar with his famous phrase ‘Make America Great Again’. One of his proposed ways to achieve this is by reducing immigration levels. Since his inauguration, Trump’s team have brought forward orders to try and achieve this. These orders and the suspension of the US refugee programme have led to what is being described as a ‘refugee pause’. In addition to the pause, there has been a mass deportation programme happening across the US. The Guardian reports that people are being deported to prisons in El Salvador.
Many of the refugees affected by this pause have come from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC has recently been hit by political unrest and armed attacks, which have led to the displacement and murders of thousands of civilians (according to UN numbers). Now it is unclear if refugees es-
caping the DRC will be allowed into the US. However, these new programmes and policies are not affecting all groups of people. Some groups have been welcomed into the US through their refugee status. In February, a new order was signed that allowed white South Africans to apply for refugee status if they had faced ‘racial crimes.’ In Early May, fifty-nine of them arrived at an airport outside of Washington, DC. This decision is reportedly backed by Elon Musk, who has just left his government role. Musk himself is from South Africa.
Race relations in South Africa have been rocky since the end of apartheid. A new law that has recently come into place seems to have increased tensions between different groups. The new law would allow the government to take farm land from white owners in exceptional circumstances in the name of public interest. White South Africans make up seven per cent of the population and own around seventy-two per cent of the farmland. At the time of writing, no land has been taken back by the government.
Around the turn of the century, South Africa’s neighbouring country, Zimbabwe, passed laws that allowed it to take control of half of all white-owned farmland. These laws led to many violent outbreaks and murders of white farm owners. However, in the four months leading up to the passing of the law in South Africa, only 0.17 per cent of all murders in the country were farm murders. In addition to that, out of the twelve farm attacks that happened in this time frame, only one victim was a farm owner, while the remaining eleven were dwellers and employees who are likely to have been black citizens (as reported by the BBC). While South Africa does not release crime statistics by race, the cur-
A new order was signed that allowed white South Africans to apply for refugee status if they’ve faced ‘racial crimes.
In addition to givin white South Africans refugee status, the Trump administration has cut aid for lifesaving AIDS/HIV treatment, which reportedly will affect the black
Lpopulation the most. The Trump administration claims these cuts were made because of fraud found within the programme, but any evidence of this has not been released to the public. Refugees from the DRC are still waiting to find out if their application to the US will be successful. Many have spoken out, saying the preferred treatment white South Africans have been receiving is unfair. It is unclear how the refugee situation is going to be resolved and if those waiting will be allowed into the US at all. It seems that the refugees allowed into the US are more likely to be selectively picked.
Is the Renationalisation of railways beneficial?
Magdalena Kanecka, assesses the renationalisation of the railways
OCAL news outlets and users of social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) have recently captured photos of people taking their first re-nationalised train journey, as the South Western Railway becomes the first railway company to be re-nationalised this year.
The government promised a best fare guarantee to ensure fixed ticket fares for customers’ train tickets
This follows the Labour Party’s commitment to re-nationalising three railway operators across the country in 2025: the previously mentioned SWR, C2C (Coast To Capital), and Greater Anglia. The party has further sought out the goals of rationalising all 28 major national train operators by 2027. Furthermore, in this, the government promised a “best fare guarantee” to ensure fixed ticket fares for customers’ train tickets.
While a promise to freeze ticket fare prices was made, this did not include making ticket prices cheaper
On the other hand, however, while a prom -
ise to freeze ticket fare prices was made, this did not include making the ticket prices cheaper, as stated by the current transport secretary, Heidi Alexander. Many members of the public, while happy with the re-nationalisation improvements, still wish to see a decline in ticket prices.
Some, yet again, took to social media to express their concerns about the prices not keeping up with living costs and the costof-living crisis.
“If fares don’t fall and ser vices don’t improve, it could undermine the case for public ownership for a long time to come”, writes The Guardian’s Sarah Nankivell.
Others are hap py with the improve ments, claiming that putting the public back into public transport is a great step from Labour, which fulfils their manifesto pledges from the latest election. Meanwhile, those against railway nationalisation
continue to claim that even though nationalisation is taking place, the services or train ticket prices are still not improving, and therefore, there is not much point in the process.
Railways are amongst the top areas that the public advocates for in the area of nationalisation. By these means, the UK is already implementing a nationalised health service, the NHS, established by Labour in 1948, and the Bank of England, nationalised by Labour in 1946. Whereas, many claim that all three of the institutions listed: railways, health service, and a central bank, all remain understaffed and underfunded regardless of which government is in power at a given time, there are still many benefits to nationalisation, which convincingly tend to outweigh these criticisms. Some of these include ensuring a set-out standard for each industry across the country, ensuring safety in times of crisis, or increasing over-
all government efficiency to serve the public. Advocacy for nationalising railways, which is used by millions daily to access work, education, and leisure, is typically rooted in improv-
This did not include making the ticket prices cheaper
ing operational costs, increased sustainability, as well as increased communication between trainlines, which, so far, continues to be broadly criticised as multiple private train operators which often do not communicate well amongst one another and thus, cause inefficiencies, miscommunications, and delays for passengers. Perhaps freezing ticket prices instead of lowering them can act as a convincing trade-off in rail re-nationalisation at first, only hoping for further price improvements in the long term, as more private operations become owned by the public. The promises of rightful investment of taxpayer money, more accurate timetabling, and an end to railway inefficiency, to many, continue to be the priority – especially to those who rely on commuting by train daily.
rent crime ratio for murder sits at around 9.1. For context in the UK, the ratio is around 0.95.
Image: Heute
Image: Ministerio del Interior y Transporte, Wikimedia Commons
Climate
David Attenborough turns 99
Amberly Wright, Print Deputy
SIR David Attenborough celebrated his 99th birthday on the 8th of May this year. Born in Middlesex, and an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, Attenborough has achieved so much throughout his life and his career. He spent his childhood captivated by fossils and everthing natural, collecting stones and treasures, including an amber, which would later ignight the spark for a documentary. He started out at the BBC as a producer, handling non-fiction broadcasts. He slowly made his way up the career ladder, eventally landing his role as director of programmes, before resigning to become a freelance broadcaster.
TOURISM is responsible for about 8% of global carbon emissions. This encompasses all aspects of travel and activities, but it is no secret that flights are a significant contributor to CO2 emissions responsible for enhancing the greenhouse effect that drives climate change. For those wishing to embark on a gap year upon graduation or do some travelling during your studies, it may seem like a challenge to see the world or explore in a sustainable way. But, there are lots of options to either cut down on emissions or even go carbon negative!
Alternatives to flying include train travel and long-distance busses. A train from London to Paris, for example, emits ~90% less CO2 than a flight. The Eurostar connects the UK to main-
CLIMATE EDITOR: Amberly Wright
Editor, dives into David Attenborough’s life achievements
Attenborough has collected 32 honorary degrees from British universities, which is the most of any singular person. He has honorary doctoral degrees from Durham University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Nottingham Trent University, amongst others. He is the only person to have won BAFTA awards for a range of programme formats: black and white, colour, high definition, and 3D. His most famous works are Blue Planet, which explores the deepest oceans, Dynasties, a series focused on families of wild animals and their fight for survival, and Frozen Planet, which
covers the world’s coldest regions. All of his documentaries explore the ever-changing natural world, with a particular focus on the changing climate. A notable release, Planet Earth, was filmed over four years, exploring a total of 64 countries. As well as his work with the BBC, Attenborough releasd a series, Our Planet, with Netflix and WWF, which dives into human impacts on the climate, and how we are the centre of all living beings. This programme highlights the importance of taking care of the natural world, and understanding that humans can have a lasting impact on animals and nature, both positively and negatively.
Eloise Grainger, gives tips to reduce carbon emissions
land Europe, completing the Channel crossing in about 2.5 hours. Interrailing is also a great option for people wanting to explore multiple places, as passes can enable you to use trains across 33 European countries. There is also a 25-35% off student or youth pass for these services!
Many travel agencies signpost to coaches for their holiday packages, such as NUCO for university snowsports travel. Cycling and walking, however, is the most sustainable form of transport – try to challenge yourself! If you are keen for a road trip, it is best to go electric and ensure it is powered by renewable energy to have a near zero carbon footprint.
Where flying is a necessity, opt for a nonstop flight, as take-off uses the most fuel; be sure to fly economy – less space means lower
Amberly Wright, Deputy Editor, delves into recent research about bees
BEES are at the heart of many ecosystems. We rely on them to pollenate flowers, spread the growth of nature, and create honey. However, with the warming climate, bees have been particularly affected.
A study from University of Würzburg shows that insects from a range of trophic levels react differently to both warmer temperatures and an increase in land use. Bees in forests have coped well with climate change, but their urban neighbours suffered, with populations reducing by 65%.
Biologist Dr Cristina Ganuza explained that the main cause of the effects on bees in urban areas comes from the increase in night-time temperatures, due to the rise being quicker and more intense. Thankfully, bees in forest environments have been adapting to warmer daytime temperatures, which
leads to a higher number and diversity of bees, in forests and grasslands, therefore the integration of natural habitats for bees to thrive in, in urban areas, is of upmost importance, to increase biodiversity.
per person emissions. Some airlines have more efficient aircrafts, particularly the newer ones. When dining, local and seasonal produce is the best way to go – not only does it reduce emissions associated with transport and refrigeration, but it also supports local farmers. Choose a plant-based meal. Beef and dairy have particularly high carbon footprints. A vegan meal can cut emissions by 70-90% compared to a meat one! It is also important to minimise food waste and compost where possible. For your activities, make them eco-friendly and regenerative! Hiking, biking, and swimming are great ways to stay active and explore the area. Kayaking or paddleboarding is also a fun form of carbon neutral transportation! Offsetting carbon emissions is great
practice, especially if you had to fly. Try tree planting, volunteering, or beach clean ups – if you’re exploring Cornwall this summer, Surfers Against Sewage often encourage people to help pick up litter off the coastline. Accommodation can also be eco-friendly –checking the amenities on AirBnB to determine hosts’ sustainable practices would be a good tactic! Remember, trying to do a little bit to play your part is most important. Sometimes our individual actions may seem insignificant, but collective action to change our holiday habits is paramount. Endeavouring to become more sustainable is admirable and encouraged; and always remember, wherever you go, to bring a reusable water bottle!
Clownfish send a warning for increased sea temperatures
Magda Kanecka, explores clownfish and their adaptations to climate change
RECENT research has shown that clownfish (nicknamed Nemos in true Finding Nemo style), especially ones living in reefs near Kimbe Bay in Papua New Guinea, have been shrinking to cope with marine heatwaves, especially since 2023.
Scientists such as Dr Theresa Rueger from Newcastle University have stated that the declining size of fish in the Earth’s oceans, along with birds, lizards and insects also declining in size, is their own means of adapting to climate change. Meanwhile we can appreciate how incredible it is that species naturally adapt so much to a changing environment, this means of survival highlights a growing underlying issue: that the heat has gotten far too much for them to live comfortably. 2023 marked the year when ocean water
temperatures increased drastically, resulting not only in large swathes of coral turning white and losing their colour, but a further 75% of the tiny clownfish, along with other species, rapidly losing weight and shrinking in size by several millimetres by the end of the heatwave. This is a further result in decreased food and oxygen supplies, also caused by rapidly rising temperatures. With fish being mostly warm-blooded animals, maintaining a constant body temperature is crucial to them. Thus, rapid spikes in temperature are significantly dangerous to their survival and must be paid careful attention to by researchers. Clownfish have since then sought to swim into cooler areas or higher ground, but this continues to disturb their regular life cycles, such as breeding or body size.
Image:
Comment
EDITOR’S COLUMN
ROBERT Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary, who is widely seen as the Conservative leader in waiting, has improved his media strategy in recent days. His latest move, a widely shared video confronting fare dodgers on the London Underground, has landed well, attracting millions of views and support across party lines. Petty crime strikes a nerve with the British public. The sense that honest, rule-abiding citizens are penalised while others defy the law corrodes trust in society. Yet Labour’s response was out of touch, with the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, resorting to personal insults, dismissing Jenrick as “Mr Ozempic.” Jenrick’s move may be politically calculated, but it reflects a deeper frustration: that neither of the main parties has a serious or credible plan to restore law and order in British cities. However, Khan’s argument about years of police cuts under the Conservatives holds weight, but the current Labour government has yet to propose a clear and realistic path forward. It has failed to tackle police underfunding, the erosion of public order, or the misallocation of police resources. Officers continue to focus on so-called non-crime hate incidents, but resources are still wasted at a time when there is very little, to tell people off for not being very nice online. When multiple officers were deployed to arrest a couple over an offensive group chat message earlier this year, is the problem really lack of funding, or simply institutional incompetence?
THE loving relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is over. Last week, Musk accused Trump of being a liar, demanded his impeachment, and suggested the Epstein files were buried to protect him. With American conservatism in turmoil, Republicans are now openly challenging MAGA. Several senators have voiced alarm over the ballooning cost of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. Amongst the Conservative grifters, they now must decide whether they are putting Musk or MAGA first — either way, a billionaire becomes the unwarranted object of idolisation.
COMMENT EDITOR
Tom Richardson
Lucas Eley
The politics behind the ‘terrorist’ label
Lucas Eley, Comment Editor examines if ‘terrorist’ is always a good-faith description
THROUGHOUT
contemporary politics, both journalists and national governments have labelled groups and their actions as “terrorist” or “terrorism” but does this actually have meaning in modern politics?
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the use of violent action in order to achieve political aims or to force a government to act”, which seems clear enough but ultimately does nothing to differentiate it from actions by national governments.
Acedemics argue that is should be defined as violence by sub state actors especially when done against civilian populaces
Academics who specialise on the subject, such as James Kiras, argue that it should be defined as violence by sub-state actors especially when done against
civilian populaces. The most important clarifications this gives is the idea that terrorism can only be done by non-state actors and raises the question of what the real difference is between groups labelled terrorists and national government in their use in recent politics.
When considering the use of the label terrorist in the context of this more complete definition, it becomes impossible to respect the value of the term in the past twenty to sixty years as often those being labelled with it actually serve as the defacto state within their nations. There are no better examples of this than groups like the Taliban in Afghanistan, or in an older example the Viet-Cong during the American invasion of Vietnam both of which were the largest power within their respective region.
The second clarification made by this definition, being that terrorism is often targeted at civilians, also seems not to actually do anything to separate the actions of state and non-state
actors with state actors also often targeting or seemingly not caring about killing civilian populaces during times of conflict. This has become especially clear in recent armed conflicts such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine in which Russia has been found guilty of war crimes due to their intentional targeting of civilians.
In a more striking example, the extent of civilian casualties in the conflict in the Gaza strip has become so great, and seemingly so intentional, that multiple international organisations such as UN special committees, the International Courts of Justice and human rights organisations such as amnesty international have labelled the military actions of Israel as characteristic of, or indicative of genocide.
When the label is so clearly used to discredit political actors that go against the interest of dominant powers, is it really a valid term?
It is important to clarify that questioning the label of terrorist does not in any way indicate moral approval or support of the actions or principles of groups labelled as such, rather aims to give clarity and educate readers as to why they should be willing and able to question political labels.
So, if the two characteristics that supposedly define terrorist’s actions are deeply flawed and muddied in separating state and non-state actors in both their methods and their relation to power in their region, can we really give any meaning to the term? When the label is so clearly used to discredit political actors that go against the interest of dominant powers, is it really a valid term or just a meaningless political platitude?
Tom Richardson
Images: CPL Sam Shepherd, ISPI
Chagos Islands — A matter of national interest
Yasmine Al-Sakat evaluates the government deal regarding the Chagos Islands
WHILE Britain must continue to uphold its commitment to international law and engage in good faith with global institutions, its primary responsibility remains to safeguard national and allied securi ty. The joint UK–US base on Diego Garcia is a cornerstone of regional stability, supporting counter-ter rorism, maritime surveillance, and Western strategic interests in an in creasingly contested Indo-Pacific.
Marks a serious and potentially irreversible shift
The government’s recent de cision to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while leasing back the base for 99 years, marks a serious and potentially ir reversible shift. Although the In ternational Court of Justice’s ad visory opinion raised important legal and moral concerns, it is not legally binding. The UK must retain the freedom to make
sovereign decisions based on longterm national interest, not simply in response to external political pressure. This deal risks setting a
While the UK must rightly engage Mauritius and address the historic injustices faced
historic injustices faced by the Chagossian people, this must not come at the expense of national security. Britain’s global influence depends not just on respecting international norms, but on protecting the assets and alliances that protect peace.
Compromise is essential in diplomacy, but it must be grounded in realism.
Any resolution must ensure the UK can operate independently, protect critical defence infrastructure, and deter hostile influence in a strategically vital region. The UK can and should engage Mauritius in constructive dialogue, but any resolution must ensure the continuity of our security arrangements and respect the reality of current geo - political threats. National security cannot be compromised for the sake of optics. Britain must stand firm in defending its interests, even when it invites criticism from international institutions.
Any resolution must ensure the continuity of our security arrangements
Corporate pride or rainbow washing?
Phoebe Andrews, discusses if buisnesses’ response to pride month is support or just marketing
OVER the years, corporations have been rightfully criticised for ‘rainbow washing’, using Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community for marketing purposes while continuing or even funding discriminatory practices. However, what is possibly even more worrying is the lack of support for Pride Month that has been seen among corporations this year, especially in the US with the Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI in the workplace.
Both previously and in the current climate, many corporations have released Pride related products and statements that are designed to encourage potential buyers. One such corporation that consistently rolled out merchandise is Target, who’s yearly bold Pride collections have been met with mixed reactions. This year, Target has once again released merchandise, but the majority of the collection swapped the bright rainbow shades for neutral tones with a focus on subtle markers rather than a celebration of identity. Even more concerning, the company is reportedly plan -
ning to cut down on hiring goals for minorities, showing a further distance from their previous message of inclusion and a concern for marketing rather than activism.
The company is reportedly planning to cut down on hiring goals for minorities
Not only Target is guilty of withholding support while still profiting from merchandise. Many US companies have removed support for Pride festivities all across the country with about 20 percent of corporate sponsors scaling back support for NYC pride for example, including PepsiCo and Nissan. While many compa -
nies argue this lack of support is due to rising costs, the conservatism of the current administration can also be seen as major factor.
Even when companies make donations to LGBTQ+ charities along with marketing merchandise it is still difficult to see past the current and past actions which position these corporations against
the community. One example is the US fast-food chain Chick Fil A, which is reportedly working with Stonewall, a major LGBTQ+ charity, to relaunch their brand in the UK and to improve their reputation. What cannot be ignored however is their continued donations to Anti – LGBTQ+ organizations such as The Salvation Army. The brand has also backed Christian groups who have spearheaded the block of the Equality Act which would have helped the community in the workplace. This contradiction is just one among many in the world of corporate pride with statements advocating for inclusion attempting to hide a lack of institutional support for most of the year. Although the attempts at support are often weak and used to attract LGBTQ+ customers rather than from a genuine activist standpoint, arguably the donations to supportive charities are still more useful to the movement than the silence about LGBTQ+ issues that we have seen this year from corporations.
Image: PICRYL
Image: Flickr
Image: Flickr
Satire
An all American Pope!
FORGET the Eras tour, there’s a new cultural phenomenon taking the world by storm: the conclave. Or rather, not new at all. But in light of the 21st century’s celebrity obsession, this particular conclave has generated a lot of interest. After JD Vance killed off Pope Francis, an occurrence that made UK citizens looked at each other knowingly, of course a successor was needed.
Some of the younger cardinals are reported to have panicked — how would they ever know how to act during the conclave when there weren’t any vlogs they could watch from past ones? Luckily help was on hand in the form of the 2024 film Conclave – the cardinals apparently had a movie night where they all watched the film and took notes. A certain Rob from Chicago even gave the film 5* on Letterboxd! There were reports of several cardinals imitating Ralph Fiennes’ accent in the discussions over the breakfast table.
Consequently, the conclave began, with the modern audience going crazy at having to wait hours on end for any news. The old-school smoke colour method caused confusion among onlookers, who are used to having everything spoon fed to them. The seagulls might well have stolen the show by prancing and preening by the all-important chimney, but at least they gave the struggling news reporters something to talk about.
Eventually the smoke thing was figured out, and excitement went through the crowd — not for the reason you would think, but because Harry Styles had been sighted! Trying to keep a low profile, he refused to comment on events, only saying about the day “It’s a sign of the times”.
And lo and behold, there appeared our new pope on the balcony, and a collective gasp went around the world: “He’s American!” After generations of mostly European popes, this one being from the USA has brought interest from a whole new audience — including some people who know him personally. From his brother revealing their Wordle-playing habits, to his personal trainer sharing his shock that his unassuming client had turned out to be the pope.
Unsurprisingly, the new Pope Leo XIV seemed embarrassed about his nationality, trying to pretend he wasn’t really that American, but his first few decrees as Pope have showed his true colours.
Sources from the Vatican have reported that all the Italian food the cardinals are served is being replaced with America’s finest cuisine — high calorie fast-food. One worried cardinal reported that he’d heard the seat of the Pope was going to be moved from the Vatican to Leo’s home city of Chicago. This concerned cardinal reported “All I know about Chicago is the musical and I don’t think that quite fits with the image of the Church!” It remains to be seen when the move will take place, but for now cardinals are making the most of their last days in Italy by eating as much gelato as possible.
Emily Irving
Breaking news — The sun is out and the beaches are empty!
Yasmine Al-Saket Lifestyle Editor
PANIC spread across Exeter’s campus when it emerged that some students had voluntarily abstained from visiting the beach during a rare outbreak of sunshine.
“We want to reassure students that this was an isolated incident,” said a university spokesperson.
In what experts are already calling “deeply unnatural behaviour”, first-year students remained
firmly indoors yesterday despite clear blue skies, soaring temperatures and a UV index of 6. With sun sightings as rare as free Pret coffee, it’s alarming to see students rebelling by not having a day out at the beach. Concerned flatmates and close friends of one affected student said, “We knew something was wrong when she didn’t post a single story from Exmouth”. Instead of spending the day at Dawlish, “reconnecting with nature” and “finding themselves through overpriced iced lattes,” they allegedly remained on cam-
pus, seen lurking in the shadows of the Amory building, alarmingly still revising during a summer day.
Chatter spread at Pret: “If they’re rejecting the Beach Day Doctrine, what next? A Saturday without Timepiece or life not owning any Exeter stash? Though some also speculate that it was a misguided attempt at productivity, others fear it’s something far more sinister: self-discipline.
The university is reportedly monitoring the situation and considering emergency mindfulness workshops for affected peers.
Exeter pride, literally
Lauren Walsh Deputy Editor
APERPLEXED Devonian has misunderstood the meaning of ‘Exeter Pride’ and attended pride last month chanting ‘Devon is heaven’ and brandishing a Devon flag. The visitor, who wished to remain anonymous, said he thought Exeter pride was to show he was “proud to be from the great city of Exeter in the glorious county of Deb’n.” After
Attended pride last month chanting ‘Devon is Heaven’ and brandishing a Devon flag
it was explained that pride was to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, he commented that it was none of his business who anyone took as a “luvverr” but it was ”gurt lush” to
see so many people out celebrating.
Despite the confusion, the Exeter-local enjoyed the festivities regardless, although he thought they could have been improved by play ing songs by Scrumpy and Western band, The Wurzels. He is planning on returning next year to run a “parrsty and ziderr” stand, and to explain to everyone that the correct way to do a cream tea is cream THEN jam. He was not the only con-
fused attendee present, a small group of University of Exeter alumni were also spotted at the event. Sporting signet rings, linen trousers and Exeter stash, they could be heard ‘rah’ing from miles away, before they headed to TP at a ridiculously early hour “for old times’ sake”.
Sporting signet rings, linen trousers and Exeter stash
Napoleon’s Graduation
Magdalena Kanecka
THE University of Exeter is glad to announce that after four years of completing his undergraduate education (One too many nights out in first year meant he had to re-do the year!), Napoleon is graduating this summer!
This comes after countless nights spent drinking green venoms at TP to celebrate his latest BUCS wins, tackling cardiac hill in his first year, battling for EGB tickets and of course, many nights spent in the library working on assignments – and especially his favourite location, the Career Zone sofa.
When asked for comment, Napoleon exclusively told Exeposé that he is excited to take some time off for the summer, perhaps by travelling and finding himself in Thailand like many other Exeter students do on their gap years. Possibly, in true Ex-
etah Gap Year style, Napoleon will return to Exeter with a brand-new chest tattoo to symbolise his journey of self-discovery. However, rest assured that Napoleon will only be gone for the summer — his heart belongs in Exeter, and as he tells us, “I wouldn’t be able to stay away… Perhaps a panic masters in Meowology is on the horizon for me.”
“Once everyone returns for another year in Exeter, I’ll be here waiting!” Napoleon adds in an exclusive interview, “I am irreplaceable after all…!”
If your lucky you can watch Napoleon walk across the stage and collect his degree this summer. However, he has already stated that he has too many fans to say hello to all of them!
Lauren Walsh
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Image: Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons
Images: Flickr and Wikimedia Commons
Images: Student Guild Instagram and RawPixel
The Summer Hussle Guide
Yasmine Al-Saket, Lifestyle Editor offers some advice for the
summer
ICONFESS I'm one of those LinkedIn warriors who had summers filled up with LinkedIn updates, internships and coffee chats with corporate executives. But not every summer needs to be with internships and LinkedIn updates to be valuable. While some are heading off to city firms or creative placements, others are taking the time to rest, reset, or explore side hustles. Though it’s easy to get caught up in the LinkedIn grind, I’m taking this summer to rest and prepare for my last year at Exeter. Having done the internships and spring weeks, it’s about time one gets some rest.
DON'T COMPARE YOUR HUSSLE TO OTHERS
I aim to spend most of my time watching theatre, attending summer schools, playing tennis and travelling. Some of my peers are interning at global banks and the Big 4, whereas some are reliving their gap year breaks, travelling Europe and South East Asia, and some are working part-time jobs or catching up on their sleep and Netflix watch -
list. There’s no shame in the game; whatever you do this summer, it’s yours to spend!
For those lucky ones who have corporate internships this summer. Here’s some guidance that I wish I had got when I was joining a firm. First, take advantage of your time in the big city by networking. Go out and meet other interns, have coffee chats with your superiors, and learn from their experiences. Second, explore whether this is the career for you, most of interning is grasping the basics. Doing minutes, attending meetings, and shadowing your colleagues. Learn what you can on the job; that’s how you’ll get the most out of it! This is also the perfect time for you to figure out if you enjoy this work and whether you could do it post-grad. Finally, have a good time and enjoy your time in London (or other cities). Consider having post-work drinks on a Thursday, joining a run club, trying pickleball for the weekend, or attending theatre shows at the West End. For those who aren’t completely sure what to do, I promise it’ll all work out. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, despite the noise of the LinkedIn posts and
mid-year humblebrags. University is tiring, there’s no doubt about it. Life at Exeter has a fever-dream quality; when you're away, it's hard to believe it ever really happened. But you've earned it. It’s worth creating a summer bucket list of all the things you wish you did during the academic year. There are plenty of affordable things you could do over the summer. From having a picnic with picky bits, going to the beach, to visiting a museum. I’ve personally found catching up with your old school friends and Exeter friends over some drinks to always be the most comforting, along with spending some time in the countryside with my family. The best recommendation of all?
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR TIME IN THE BIG CITY BY NETWORKING. CONSIDER POST-WORK DRINKS
Don’t compare your hustle, your summer can still be productive even if it’s spent journaling in a park, starting a blog, or discovering a new podcast while walking the
Our Sapphic Saviour
Meet Exeter's wlw
DEAREST Exposé Reader, Exeter’s sapphic community is finally alight with gossip spreading
of my own anonymous confession page: @ wlwexeter. Dedicated to all things sapphic, you will find fellow students musing on their newest campus crush in Devonshire House, the girl they unfortunately fumbled on a Cavern Saturday, and the inevitable sapphic exsituationship getting back together (sigh).
Regardless of the entertaining stories confessed, my page is a hub of LGBTQ+ solidarity, and was created to facilitate an environment for queer people to be a part of, whilst also being a space to find fellow queer people in a university which is predominantly heterosexual. This being something which I have struggled to navigate whilst coming out as lesbian during my first year here. Who knew how soul destroying it was trying to fit in, whilst trying to resist comphet! Yet this account has been a sort of solace for myself — I now take pride in knowing that I am not alone in this, and that many other queer students in Exeter feel this way.
I adore all of the hilarious, sometimes tragic dating stories sent to my account, and from these it came to my attention that the sapphics of Exeter were in need of some sort of wlw dating support. My account now
has its own matchmaking service. Specify your university year, sexuality, preferences and your interests, and I will work on finding you the sapphic match of your dreams. This matchmaking service has brought some very hilarious (and, somewhat unsurprising) stories. I’ll give you an insight: From the matchmaking applicants, it is evident that there have been an influx of fems in desire of a masc partner. I had found two perfect candidates for this exact match; I thought that they would be extremely compatible based on their common interests and preferences, thus I sent them both over a message to say that I had matched them both, and handed them both of their instagram handles so they could contact one another. Anyhow, a little while later, I get a message from the fem saying the dreaded: “that’s my ex!” I couldn’t believe my eyes. The matchmaking had led to a very awkward yet humorous exchange between myself and the fem talking about what had just happened. I had matched a masc/fem couple who were actually exes! Awkward, right. Needless to say that the masc also messaged me saying how the matched fem was their ex too… Yet my
dog. There’s no one-size-fits-all path, and downtime is just as important as deadlines.
account has also reaped great rewards for some sapphic students! The first couple of matches were sent out a couple of weeks ago, and after these were distributed, I was notified of a confession on my account saying: “secured a date for next week because of the matchmaking!!! Thank you wlwexeter gods.” I was overjoyed! I love hearing about the positive outcomes of the sapphic matchmaking, and was so glad to know that the match I created was suitable for the two members to meet up. Talking of securing dates, I had a confession asking what someone should do “if they go on a sort of date with someone and talk for 3 hours straight” and never secure the second date, but both members of the party desired to. Well, after some advice and a week, I got a confession with an update saying that they are meeting up once again! I am so happy for them and would love a further update if you are reading this! Have a sapphic confession regarding your recent date, the girl you drunkenly met in the TP toilets, or the sapphic BNOC on campus? Make sure to send your own anonymous confession. XOXO, @wlwexeter
Image: Pexels
Image: Betsy Heasman
TNokia Nostalgia: The Mobile Regression
HE early 2000s brought us some of the most iconic pop culture moments to this very day. Think flared low-rise jeans, Britney Spears blasting on your iPod Nano, heart-shaped sunglasses, and finally, flip phones; preferably ones you hand-decorated with neon pink sequins. It seems that the most recent era of fashion and lifestyle revival honours the late 1900s and early 2000s — and I am all here for it.
PERHAPS LAST YEAR’S BRAT SUMMER WILL TURN INTO Y2K SUMMER THIS YEAR
With the return of Paris Hilton’s fashion, music, and even her own cookware line, perhaps
Magdalena Kanecka, explores Gen Z's decision to ditch smartphones
last year’s Brat Summer will turn into Y2K Summer this year. Regardless, I am not complaining. I can only look forward to a modernday equivalent incident like none other but Nicole Richie using Lindsay Lohan’s phone to text a model who accused Lohan of stealing her designer clothes to “BLOW A HORN”. Many Gen-Z members have thus reverted to using more traditional phones to cut down on their media and technology exposure, in the 2000s style, where such developments did not yet exist. This revival is partially due to a longing for an era of simplicity, perhaps a desire to step away from social media and physically disconnect from the mess that the current world is leaving us with. In all personal honesty, I get it; far too many people nowadays are glued to their phones instead of living in the moment when needed.
THIS REVIVAL IS PARTLY DUE TO A LONGING FOR AN ERA OF SIMPLICITY
Technological advancements are important to acknowledge, and we should continue to utilise them where necessary, but with the increased rise of AI and nearly every source of media and pop culture being accused of being prompted by machinery and algorithms such as ChatGPT, perhaps a mobile regression in true 2000s style is not as bad as it may seem at face value, even despite social media being the main source of information and income for many influencers and public figures nowadays.
Home at Halls to Slumlord Sagas
Jake Dean, gives some wisdom for the jump to private renting
MOVING from uni halls to a rented house in second year can be a big shift. You go
START BY TAKING LOADS OF PHOTOS WHEN YOU MOVE IN. SNAP EVERY MARK
from a simple room and on-call maintenance to managing a whole property, with more freedom but also more responsibility. Start by taking loads of photos when you move in. Snap every mark, scratch, and bit of damage. This protects you from being charged for “betterment,” which is when landlords try to make you pay to
Wimprove the property beyond how you found it. It’s illegal, but not uncommon. Then there’s bills. Unlike halls, you may have to set up separate gas, electric, and water accounts. Gas and electric are usually paid via meters. You’re charged based on usage, so take readings when you move in and out to avoid
LIVING IN A HOUSE CAN BE A GREAT EXPERIENCE
overpaying. It is often worth setting up a joint bank account that you and your housemates can use to pay all the bills to avoid confusion. Household jobs are another adjust-
ment. Things like mowing the lawn, unblocking sinks, and changing lightbulbs now fall to you. There’s no maintenance team to call, so you’ll need to figure things out or split tasks with housemates. Despite, what other say about landlord stories, the messy kitchens and the potential falling out with friends. Living in a house can be still be a great experience. You get more space, more privacy, and the chance to make the place feel like home. It's a rite of passage, moving in with your friends, having house parties and pres. Being prepared helps you make the most of it.
Packing up my university room
Betsy Heasman, Lifestyle Editor, shares a sentimental tour through her first-year room
HEN I first moved into this little box back in September, void of any character, I’d never have known what it would mean to me, come the end of the year.
Stolen TP cups float around my room, still with the subtle smell of overpriced venoms, reminding me not just of terrible hangovers but the pain of my bank balance on a Thursday morning. My walls are covered in posters bought from the Forum poster sale — slightly bent at the corners is one from my favourite movie, Alice in the Wonderland . It reminds me of rainy Sundays spent rewarching it, curled up with a cup of tea and a looming deadline. It starts with the corkboard. At the beginning of the year, it was bare, just blu-tack and hope. Now, it's a patchwork of everything: a wristband from my first night at TP, a train ticket home from a weekend I really needed and birthday cards from my university friends. I’d never have thought that the friends I’ve made here
would mean as much as the home friends living on my cork board, thanks to Free Prints.
The inflatable animals living on top of our fridge are distant memories of the Lemmy Saturdays we snuck them from, and there's a part of me that will even miss my tiny cramped wet room. A very tiny part.
The fairy lights ,slightly too bright, slighty too tangled, have seen my essay-induced tears and impromptu pres with friends. They're the backdrop to my first solo Christmas, my first allnighter and my first real sense of independence.
I pack up my shelf of stationery and A-Level material, never actually touched along with the eclectic wardrobe that I’ve collected. I now own spiderman vests from the Primark boys' section thanks to a superhero themed Batty Bingo, as well as a ‘Kids need the Cavern’ t-shirt. Along with the plethera of Exeter related stash, I've cumulated throughout my first year. There are flyers for societies that I always wanted to join but never did and those where I did and met my best friends.
My row of trainers are all significantly dirty, making me question if the fever dance floor has ever actually been cleaned.
EACH ITEM I PACK AWAY FEELS LIKE A GOOD BYE TO A VERSION OF MYSELF I MET AT EXETER
As I look forward to my second-year bedroom; a double bed, real shower and the absence of the weekly 9am practice fire alarm, there's a ping of nostalgia for my first-year home and the experience it represents. Each item I pack away feels like a goodbye to a version of myself I met at Exeter. Not every moment was perfect, but they were mine. And maybe that's what makes what started as a small box turn into what now feels like home, not the things themselves, but the fact I grew around them.
Image: Pexelmage: Gylfi Gylfason
Image: cottonbro studio. Pexel
Image: Max Vakhtbovycn, Pexel
AThe Rise of the musical
Beth Donavan discusses the new trend in adapting everything into a musical
S the new musical: Death Becomes Her blows up as a social media sensation 33 years following the original film’s release, it’s clear that turning beloved movies into musicals is a reliable formula for theatre. Popular stories with builtin fanbases bring initial audience interest, but the best adaptations do more than rehash their source material — they reimagine it for the stage. Among the most successful examples of this is Legally Blonde: The Musical Adapted from the beloved 2001 comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde came to Broadway in 2007. Rather than becoming a shallow recycling of the film’s plot points, the musical elevates them. The story of Elle Woods, from pink-clad sorority queen to top Harvard law student, becomes
an empowering, high-energy musical packed with a catchy pop score, sharp wit and genuine heart. Numbers like “So Much Better” and “Legally Blonde” gives Elle’s internal growth and transformation a powerful musical voice, while crowd favourites like “Whipped into Shape” and “Bend and Snap” brings dynamic, high-impact choreography that accentuate the show’s blending of humour, dance, and visual spectacle. Beyond Broadway, Legally Blonde became a pop culture sensation. The show earned multiple Tony nominations and found new life in a successful West End run and national tours, as well as a live MTV taping and a nationally televised “Search for Elle Woods” in the US to solidify its legacy. The memorable soundtrack, combined with the underlying comedy and
arts + lit Summer exhibition forcast
message of self-belief continue to resonate with new generations — many of whom weren’t even born when the movie premiered.
ADAPTATIONS WORK BEST WHEN THEY DON’T JUST REPLICATE
Film-to-musical adaptations work best when they don’t just replicate — they reinvent. This formula captures both longtime fans and new audiences alike, as seen with Legally Blonde, and now with Death Becomes Her , whose viral success proves that even decades-old films can find fresh relevance through bold theatrical reinvention.
Amberly Wright, Deputy Editor, shares the exhibitions she is looking forward to the most this summer
FOR many, the summer break from university means sunshine, sea, and holidays in exotic places. For others, this can mean a chance to explore and visit museums or galleries that have been on hold during exam season. In London, there is a neverending list of exhibitions to see. The permanent exhibitions at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the Design Museum, and the V&A are not to be missed, with lots of famous artworks and interesting sculptures hidden inside, and ready to be marvelled at.
IN LONDON THERE IS A NEVER ENDING LIST OF EXHIBITIONS TO SEE
If you’re looking for something away from the permanent collection, you can visit Anthony McCall: Solid Light, which has been extended to run throughout June. This exhibition explores largescale sculptures, using various methods of light and reflection to create eye-catching rays and shapes. Pushing the boundaries, Leigh Bowery’s exhibition takes influence from many public figures, from Alexandra McQueen, to Lady Gaga, celebrating the body and show-casing sexual prowess. I recently had the privilege of visiting the Design Museum with my mum, to see Splash!, an exhibition about the rise of swimming. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through time, showing Olympians, past and present, and their achievements across
AN EXHIBITION ABOUT A CHILDHOOD
FAVOURITE OF MINE AND MAYBE YOURS
several water sports; one of Tom Daley’s crocheted jumpers even featured! After exploring the origins of swimming as a sport and hobby, the evolution of swimwear throughout the century were on display, providing an insight into the revolutionary designs available now, from gender neutral options to period-positive bikinis. For those of us based in the Midlands, and further up North, Leeds can be a great place for art and museums. At the Leeds Museum, until September, is an exhibition
about a childhood favourite of mine, and maybe yours, Miffy. As she turns 70 this year, this interactive exhibition will take visitors through displays and activities, immersing oneself in the world of Dick Bruna and his creation of Miffy. The exhibition will move to my home county, Norfolk, after September, if you fancy a visit there too! Last on my list for this summer is Flowers, an exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, that showcases flora and fauna in contemporary art and culture. The exhibition initially closed in March, but has been reopened from May, until the end of August. If you fancy a bit of art practice yourself, Flowers Lates gives visitors a chance to explore the gallery after dark once a month, with a bar, and classes or workshops, ranging from Botticelli-inspired life drawing lessons to aura and tarot readings.
To you, 15 years from now Maya Dallal, Online Music Editor, explores themes of longing, love and nature in her creative work
2010
I stand alone on an old beach, a familiar one, whose grains of sand have dug themselves into my uncalloused skin. My mother lounges beside me, my cousins scream in the distance. The waves coil against my feet, lulling me to sleep. The winds hiss a melody only I can hear, one carved into my bones long before they ever saw the sunlight. Sometimes I sift through the sand seeking something that I only feel here, but I don’t yet know what it is.
2015
Things are changing and I dislike that. Autumn has stolen my precious friend
away from me, stained her dark and stormy, torturing her with its caprice. In the death of summer, I cannot bask in the decay. I cannot do anything but mourn.
2020
I miss you although we do not know each other yet. The beach is the same as always, and she tries to understand me as best she can, but I remain alone, a bastion against the onslaught of her currents. In my mind I dash my sadness on the rocks, watch it spray into the ether and take me with it. The waves lash at my ankles, and I plunge myself into them head first, mouth
open. I emerge choking as salt scrapes my throat raw. The sea tries to smooth me over, mold me into something she can tolerate, but I prove too difficult, too corporeal. She shoves me towards the shore, discontented, and I trudge towards land.
2025
We stand next to each other on a new beach, you in a bikini, me in a jumper still fresh from the wash. You’re crouching below me, scrubbing the sand for seashells with red-painted hands. Your voice catches on the wind just before they melt into each other, rising and falling into my eardrums.
I squish my toes into the sand and ask you what you are thinking about. Your hand breaks free of the water holding something ridged and opalescent. You offer it to me, and I take it, dripping salt onto my clothes. In the fading daylight, your eyes meet mine, and in the green haze I am reminded I am nothing. I watch the sea reflected in you, molting and shedding its blues like leaves in autumn. Your face breaks into a smile, and you say it’s nice here, isn’t it. And I think that it finally is.
Image: Flickr
Image: Flickr
Image: Flickr
EDITORS: Amber Platel and Isabel
Bratt
Celebrating queer joy in art
Arts and Lit writers look at different forms of art to celebrate queer culture
ZANELE Muholi (they/them) is a South African activist whose work celebrates Black LGBTQIA+ lives through powerful photography. While their art raises awareness of injustices, challenges and structural violence, it also profoundly celebrates queer joy. Muholi turns the camera toward underrepresented and misrepresented communities — as well as themselves — examining the politics of race, gender, and the transformative power of the Black gaze. Their images go beyond survival; they show people thriving. Muholi has always pushed for radical change, using visual images to insist that black queer people are not only seen, but intentionally take up space boldly and unapologetically. It is no surprise that they have exhibited at the Tate, addressing injustice and advocating for change while also celebrating moments of queer joy, balancing political urgency with beauty, connection, and hope. A personal favourite of mine is their piece Collectivity, which captures the energy of protest and the strength of community. Through images of love, care, and resistance, Muholi shows that queer joy can be a form of activism: defiant, radiant, and communal. In their portraits, they become both subject and author, using personas and everyday objects to reflect on colonial histories, gender expression, and social injustice. These images challenge viewers to confront race and visibility, while also inviting them into moments of dignity, beauty, and self-definition. “We live as Black people 365 days a year, and we should speak without fear,”Muholi states. That act of speaking, visually, artistically, and politically, becomes a form of queer joy: powerful, unashamed, and intentional.
Yasmine Al-Saket, Lifestyle
Editor
So much queer literature focuses on struggle and survival, but Chen Chen’s poem “i love you to the moon &” offers a display of queerness as pure and unfiltered joy. The poem sees the speaker inviting the person they love to move to the moon with them: “let’s love each other / (so good) on the moon, let’s love / the moon on the moon.” The moon becomes not just a setting but a metaphor for freedom, and a place beyond societal expectation, where queer love can simply be. By placing the poem on the moon, Chan repurposes the sci-fi genre, so often dominated by straight male narratives, and in doing so, Chan has reclaimed the genre as a space for queer joy and love. The poem contains no struggle or apology. Its concerns are gentle and full of love: “are you / packing your bags yet? don’t forget your / sailor moon jean jacket.” It’s a joyful, goofy and tender vision of a life built together, not existing in fear or defiance, but in celebration. Even the title is a subversion of cliché: “i love you to the moon &”, not back, as the familiar phrase goes. Chen writes, “not back, let’s not come back”, suggesting a love that isn’t limited to the confines of earth and society. In a further expression of queerness as joy and not suffering, Chen doesn’t use “queer” as a label, but as an adjective: “twirling in that lighter, / queerer moon gravity.” Acting as a reminder that queer joy is expansive, buoyant, and worth celebrating. Amber Platel, Arts + Lit Editor
Arts + Lit festival season
Rosie Batsford, shares her thoughts and feelings on Arts + Lit festivals
SUMMER brings about all the best things — sun, beach trips, and arts and lit festivals. Across the country, communities are coming together over the next few months to put on great displays of arts and lit brilliance. From the internationally well-known Hay festival, the UK trendsetter Cheltenham Literature festival, and creative events held as part of music festivals such as Glastonbury, to celebrations put together by your local town, ‘tis the season for book lovers.
COMMUNITIES ARE COMING TOGETHER TO PUT ON GREAT DISPLAYS
Relieved of deadline season chaos, have a look at what’s on offer at your local arts and lit fest. Several websites have compiled dates of arts and lit festivals and events, big and small, so it’s worth checking out what’s on in your area. With opportunities to meet independent book sellers, you may come across your new goto seller. Most festivals also invite local creatives, some of them with a bookish theme how better to demonstrate
your love of a particular book or series than inspired accessorising and home decorating! There is always a plethora of opportunities to attend talks from authors — well-established and up-and-coming — you never know! Additionally, art trails are being held in locations across the UK at this time of year, showcasing the work of local artists in all mediums.
Fancy getting creative? Many festivals provide opportunities to get involved. Whether this be through activities such as
Summer book reccomendations
Arts and Lit writers, give readers their go to summer books
The Unhoneymooners
WITH summer around the corner, for many, reading habits become seasonal and tailored to the weather. For myself, this means moving from heavy fantasy and cosy fiction to lighthearted romantic comedies or any book that features a Jane Austen level of gossiping. In April, I found my new go-to summer read to get you in the vacation mood, or in my case, provide a brilliant (if temporary) distraction from looming summer deadlines and essays. The Unhoneymooners , by Christina Lauren, has a fun, inverted marriage structure that follows a blooming romance between Olive Torres, the self-proclaimed unluckier half of her twin sister Ami, and Ethan Thomas, her nemesis and the brother of Ami’s husband. After a wave of vomit-inducing food-poisoning spreads through her wedding, leaving Olive and Ethan the only two unaffected, Ami sends the pair on her honeymoon in Maui in the place of the married couple. Forced to pretend to be newlyweds and shove down the friction and abrasive feelings between them, the two go through the motions of a luxurious vacation — running into old partners and new bosses — whilst trying not to give up the act. By bonding over shared experiences and inevitably dropping their defensive walls, the two realise external factors were pulling strings in their relationship from the start. While many readers despise the infamous ‘miscommunication trope’, Lauren writes it in a refreshing way in this easy, but meaningful summer read. I highly recommend checking this book out for snorkelling, melting massages and swaying palm trees
Nwax seal courses, book binding, or openmic poetry reading, there is more to do than shopping! Of course, being in a UNESCO City of Literature, we are well blessed here in Exeter. Exeter Lit Fest goes from strength to strength every year. As ever, it has truly levelled up once again, embarking into the world of AI and VR headsets to explore the world of books, as well as offering bibliotherapy by those trained in the innovative Exeter College programme. I’ve signed up for volunteering at my local lit fest, taking place in mid-October. It has been so interesting to see the ‘behind the scenes’ of such brilliant community events.
Beth Casey, Screen Editor
OW, this book doesn’t necessarily scream summer vibes, nor is there any mention of beaches and bikinis. Yet this book always reminds me of summer. The book is an enemiesto-lovers story blended with forbidden romance. Set within a prestigious high school setting, it may seem anything but a book to remind you of warm summer days — but stick with me. Archibald Lancaster, the quintessential bad boy and privileged troublemaker, meets shy but intelligent Daisy Albright, a scholarship student and the daughter of the school’s groundskeeper, after his carefree attitude and reckless behaviour left him working in the headmaster’s office (alongside Daisy).
Archibald’s initial arrogance masks the deep-seated desire he builds for Daisy, and his growing love for her challenges both characters to stand up to the societal pressures and familial expectations that they each face. Perhaps it was because I read this book in early August and that reading this book, as well as the others in the Lancaster Prep series, became part of my daily routine. The series became synonymous with summer. Or perhaps it was because of the light-hearted romance story. It talks about the intensity of first love and emotional awakening, which reminds me of summer romances. The flowerbed, which Daisy tends to throughout the story, is powerful symbolism for their blossoming love and transformation as they mature to recognise the legacy of the Lancaster family and how their interactions that are fraught with tension are really signalling to a deeper connection. Perhaps it is just the vivid imagery of the two taking amongst the flowers that blow in the breeze that reminds me of summer. Or maybe it is a combination of all those factors Elosie
Image: Pexels
Granger
Image: Pexels
Image: Pexels
You said I was your favourite
MUSIC
The Ivor awards 2025
Sarah Gould, Music Editor, gives the run down on the lastest awards show
THE Ivors is one of the most respected music award ceremonies. It celebrates the achievements of songwriters and composers. This year was the 70th edition, and the awards were presented to honour songs and scores by UK and Irish songwriters that were released last year, demonstrating originality and impact. Let’s have a look at how this year’s went down. Winning writer of the year with Amazon Music was the Brat herself, Charlie XCX, whose groundbreaking album Brat in 2024 redefined the pop genre. The album was so successful, creating not just buzz in the charts, but a cultural phenomenon, and we will always remember 2024’s summer as the ‘Brat’ summer. One of the highest honours for song -
writers in the music industry is the Fellowship of the Ivors, and this was awarded to U2, the first ever Irish songwriters that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship in its history. U2’s win reflects their fearlessness and emotion that they pour into their songwriting, influencing generations of listeners as well as fellow artists.
THIS WAS AWARDED TO U2, THE FIRST IRISH SONGWRITERS INDUCTED INTO FELLOWSHIP
The Performing Right Society (PRS) for
IMusic Icon Award was presented to the born entertainer Robbie Williams. This is his 5th Ivor award under his belt, and is a true recognition of his songwriting abilities, bringing us a range from the sweet and heartfelt ‘Angels’ to the coolness and upbeat tune of ‘Rock DJ’. Finally, the spotlight award for Rising Star was presented to Lola Young, the latest under-25 to be presented this prestigious award. Her hit single ‘Messy’ pushed her into the spotlight last year. Her unique voice is a breath of fresh air, and I’m sure this is one of many awards yet to come in her career. There were many other awards such as the horror film The Substance claiming Best Original Film Score, and Self Esteem taking home the Visionary Award. The night
showed great promise of the future of music, with 73% of all winners and recipients receiving recognition for the first time.
Risqué lyrics — a review of Lola Young’s new song
Yasmine Al-Saket, Lifestyle Editor, discusses Young's song 'One Thing'
S it too crude when a woman says what she wants? Lola Young doesn’t seem to think so, and neither should we.
Music talking about sex dates back centuries, and it shouldn’t have been a shock when Lola Young’s latest single, 'One Thing', shares her experience of sex and desire. The South London singer-songwriter drops any pretence of subtlety, delivering a sexually explicit track that is as bold as it is divisive—known for her single 'Messy'; her feature on Tyler, the Creator’s 'Like Him,' and her unique blend of soulful pop, R&B, and jazz influences. Young has carved a name for herself as an artist who’s unafraid to get raw. But 'One Thing' marks a new level of candour and with it a wave of online discourse.
The song doesn't waste time getting to the point. “I wanna kiss you slow, wanna f*** you rough/want to eat you up”, she sings in the opening verse, delivering lust with domestic intimacy in the same breath. The production is slow, sultry, and intimate, layering minimalist beats under her smoky vocals. There’s no metaphor to hide behind here: this is sexual expression at its most direct.
Kayleigh
IBut what’s compelling is the control. Rather than sounding performative or designed for shock, 'One Thing' feels like a woman simply stating her terms, without shame. Sex is primarily about power, and 'One Thing' is not just a song but rather a power play. What starts as a hook-up anthem gains emotional texture in the outro. “All my life, all my life / Been waitin' for you,” Young sings in a repeated refrain that veers into longing. This sudden shift, almost jarring in contrast to the earlier bravado, suggests a deeper emotional undercurrent.
Perhaps 'One Thing' isn’t just about pleasure; perhaps it’s also about vulnerability, intimacy, and the longing we try to suppress in a world that rewards detachment.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT VULNERABILITY, INTIMACY AND THE LONGING WE TRY TO SUPRESS IN A WORLD THAT REWARDS DETACHMENT
Still, the lyrics have drawn criticism. Some listeners labelled the song “crude” and “attention-seeking.” But it’s worth asking: would the same critique have been levelled if the artist were a man or even a different kind of woman? It comes as no shock when male artists have even Raunchier lyrics. When pop stars like Sabrina Carpenter release similarly raunchy tracks (her album Short n’ Sweet ), they’re often framed as cheeky or empowering and viewed positively by critics. Young’s bluntness, by contrast, has been met with a degree of discomfort that reveals more about the listener than the song. There’s a radical and classed element to this double standard, too. Lola Young is a mixed-race woman from working-class London, not a carefully manufactured pop princess. Despite online discourse of her being an “industry plant” and a “nepo baby”. Her accent, her edge, and her refusal to package her sexuality in palatable metaphors all push against what’s often expected of female artists in the mainstream. In many ways, 'One Thing' challenges the notion that sexual expression from women must be
A Master's comeback
'ONE THING' IS MORE THAN A PROVOCATIVE SEX SONG, IT'S A STATEMENT
“tasteful” to be acceptable. And yet, it’s also fair to say this song won’t be for everyone. The lyrical bluntness might turn off listeners who prefer subtlety or metaphor in their music. For some, 'One Thing' may simply not suit their taste, and that’s valid. But dismissing it entirely as “too much” risks ignoring the wider conversation about who gets to be explicit, and how we police women’s voices. Ultimately, 'One Thing' is more than a provocative sex song, it’s a statement. Young doesn’t ask for permission to express desire. She just does it. That alone is radical in a music industry still riddled with double standards. Whether you love it, loathe it, or somewhere in between, Lola Young has made her voice, her desire, impossible to ignore. 'One Thing' demands a reaction, and maybe that’s the point.
Swart, Editor-in-Chief, shares the latest update in the Taylor's Version saga
N a recent statement posted to her website singer/songwriter Taylor Swift has announced that she had brought back the rights to all her music and previous creative work. This saga began back in 2019, when the music manager Scooter Braun brought the music label Big Machine, where Swift was previously signed onto. With this purchase he brought the rights to her first six albums. Swift stated that despite her interest, she was not given the opportunity to buy back her own music. Braun had brought the master recordings
of her music, but Swift still owned the actual music and lyrics. She expressed interest of rerecording her music in an 2019 interview with CBS Sunday Morning . Her first rerecorded album Fearless (Taylor’s Version) was released in 2021. Since then, she has rerecorded and released four out of the six original albums. However, in this recent statement she has said that all her previous music now belongs to her. In a deal with Shamrock Capital, she has acquired the master rights to all her previous work. While an exact number isn’t known, Billboard are report-
ing that Swift probably brought back her catalogue for around 360 million US dollars.
In her letter she thanks the fans saying “The passionate support you showed those albums and the success story you turned the eras tour into is why I was able to buy back my music.” She also expressed the importance of artists being able to own their own work saying: “Every time a new artist tells me they negotiated to own their master recordings in their record contract because of this fight, I am reminded of how important it was for all of this to happen.”
She also spoke about the last two albums that haven’t been rerecorded yet. She revealed that D ebut (Taylor's Version) was completed, but that she had hit a roadblock with Reputation . She writes “It is the one album in those first 6 that I thought couldn’t be improved upon by redoing it.” However, she said there would still be a time to release the vault tracks from the album. While fans still have these upcoming rerecordings to look forward to, it seems that they’ll also be able to go back and celebrate the first six albums.
EDITOR: Sarah Gould
University: In a playlist
Music Writers share their experience at university through the form of music
TPlaylist one:
HE ups, the downs, the “what on earth is going on” moments, university has an eclectic playlist. Since December 2019 (well before my time at Exeter), I have kept a monthly playlist on Spotify. I can see how my taste has changed, and I never get bored of listening. It’s all basic stuff, but it reflects my state of mind fairly well. I have never been someone who can study to classical music — I need something that will push me through. For this, Choir
I’M definitely one of those people that listens to every genre of music so the soundtrack to my uni days definitely reflects that! My music taste has in part been shaped by my friends, particularly as some of them are resident DJs in Exeter. They often play hard groove, UKG, or techno. I have come to love artists like Interplanetary Criminal, Sammy Virji, and Oppidan, and since listening to them during my
Playlist three:
BEING at university for three years has made me learn to use my money wisely. The one way I got the most out of my money was through my Spotify subscription. Let me tell you, not a single penny was wasted there. I would love to say that my music taste has evolved throughout my three years here, and maybe that is partly true, but the actual truth is that my uni playlist started and ended with Taylor Swift. Her studio album Midnights came out during my first
Techno or Gregorian Chant Techno are my go-to genres. Niche, but it works, I promise. More generally, Lorde gives me the energy to make the trek up to campus, Hozier romanticises my walk home, Alt-J keeps me calm, Ethel Cain fuels my chaotic alter-ego, and Taylor Swift gets me through doing the washing up. Lana Del Rey has been my top Spotify artist since 2018
— She got me through GCSE’s, A-Levels, and Uni. Terrence Loves You will always be my go-to in any situation. I also have more general playlists beyond my monthly curation, including one titled ‘Mythology crash out’ (no prizes for guessing the theme), and a set of songs that I am unable to listen to until after graduation, or else I
get too emotional. Phoebe Bridgers has put me in a state, and let’s not even think about half of the Mamma Mia soundtrack… The university experience has many sounds, and I love them all. They reflect an honest journey I can’t wait to look back on in future years.
Rosie Batsford
friends’ sets, I have gone to see these artists at Hijacked festival in Exeter, at other UK festivals and on the uni ski trip in Tignes!
Snowsports Exeter has been a huge part of all three of my years at university, so typical ‘skiers’ music has been regularly featured on my Spotify playlists. ‘The Days’ NOTION remix is a classic after becoming a trending audio backing ski edits online. ‘She’s Gone, Dance On’ reminds me of November 2024, when the ski teams
term of first year and it was on repeat for months. I remember climbing up cardiac hill every day with ‘Karma’ blasting through my ears. Then in this last year when The Tortured Poets Department came out, that was on loop on the way to lectures and in the gym. However, Swift’s entire catalogue is not the only music I’ve listened to. In my third year I started getting more into rock music with
headed up to Edinburgh for the BUDS tournament. This song was on repeat, as was ‘So Much In Love’ (the Sub Focus remix) and ‘Big City Life’ by Luude and Mattafix. House music is certainly my favourite genre after all the ski trips and socials, and it makes for good background music for beach motives or garden parties too. It gives a steady beat and an uplifting vibe to any moment. In my second year, a core TP music memory was when Saltburn made ‘Murder on
bands like Fleetwood Mac, Blue Oyster Cult and The Kinks popping up on my recently played. I started listening to them in the depths of my dissertation writing. They were familiar enough to keep me entertained but not so well-known to me that I could sing along and distract myself. My evenings were filled with softer music, a way to unwind from my busy uni days. Hozier made fre -
Queer album highlights
Ithe Dancefloor’ popular again – my word this song was on every five minutes! Another song that was on repeat at this time – although this one was self-induced – was Travis Scott’s ‘My Eyes’. Whenever I hear it, I can’t help but remember the 3000-word essay I was working on in the first semester and I played it on a loop for five hours straight… but hey, it got the job done! Eloise Grainger
quent appearances, along with songs like ‘The Moon Will Sing’ by The Crane Wives and ‘Meet me in the woods’ by Lord Huron. I would like to say I have an eclectic music taste, but the truth is that it is mostly white-girl pop music. However, I’m a firm believer that nothing gets you pumped like some Chappell Roan or Olivia Rodrigo. Kayleigh Swart, Editor -In-Chief
Music Writers, shout out their favourite queer albums for pride month
ADORE albums that follow a storyline, and Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter does this excetionally well, discussing the themes of religion, identity, personal struggles, and falling in love. Ethel Cain is both a stage name and a fictional character representative of the album’s story, and her author, Hayden Silas Anhedönia, is proudly outspoken about her identity as a transgender woman. Whereas my identity as a cisgender female doesn’t exactly match hers, as a fellow member of the LGBTQ+ community, I find her work exceptionally powerful in its lyrics and production. As a result, many online fan accounts have compiled storyline summaries and potential theories for the album’s lore, which, though eerie to read at first, only made the album more worth listening to. The standout tracks to me are “A House in Nebraska” and the two closing tracks, “Sun Bleached Flies” and “Strangers”, which particularly showcase Cain’s vocal strength.
Magdalena Kanecka
FOLLOWING her own rise to fame with the single "Good Luck, Babe! " (about a woman struggling with compulsory heterosexuality) Chappell Roan’s 2023 debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess became a ‘sleeper hit’. Several of its tracks then appeared in the charts, with "Pink Pony Club", a song about a woman who moves to Los Angeles and becomes a dancer at a gay club, reaching number one in the UK charts. The album itself has a synth-pop style and is full of upbeat tracks enhanced by Roan’s incredible vocals, which are great to dance to, and perfect pop for summer. My favourite tracks include "HOT TO GO!", "Red Wine Supernova " and "California". Rise and Fall is generally about a woman who moves from the American Midwest to California and embraces her queer identity, and many of the songs fit within this narrative. Roan herself identifies as a lesbian, and often wears bold outfits heavily inspired by drag queens when performing. Her most recent single is a foray into country music titled "The Giver", which, according to Vulture’s Justin Curto, “sounds like a lesbian Shania Twain single". Lauren Walsh, Deputy Editor
Image: Pexels
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Preacher's Daughter
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Playlist two:
Image: Wikimedia Commons
screen
Mission Impossible: The Final, Final Reckoning?
SPOILERS AHEAD
MISSION Impossible: The Final Reckoning picks up right after its first half, with newly recruited Grace (Haley Atwell) joining the IMF to battle The Entity - a sentient AI pulling global strings and infiltrating national security. While the first rendition of this two part franchise finale balanced a perfect mixture of clean action sequences, absurd humour and emotional turmoil — I found the sequel lacking. The dialogue often felt clichéd and twodimensional — a case of telling rather than showing. While that might be forgivable under the blockbuster umbrella of “spectacle over substance,” the film’s biggest flaw is Atwell’s underwritten character, Grace. She felt empty and often pointless to the narrative, aside from being a clumsy placeholder for Cruise’s typical ‘romantic interest.’ In Dead Reckoning her nuance came from her being a thief and the comedic relief. The iconic yellow
IBeth Casey, Screen Editor reviews Tom Cruise’s franchise finale
Fiat 500 sequence felt refreshing and innovative, but in this film, Grace primarily served the purpose of elevating Ethan Hunt to the all-knowing savior, by asking him ‘what now?’ after every problem was introduced.
GRACE PRIMARILY SERVED THE PURPOSE OF ELEVATING ETHAN HUNT TO THE ALL KNOWING SAVIOR
The franchise’s best character relationships also took a backseat. Where was the camaraderie between Hunt and Benji? Or Simon Pegg’s usual comic relief? And the villain Gabriel — once a cold, AI-reflective presence — became inexplicably manic, complete with evil grins and unearned hysteria. The tonal shift made the film feel bizarrely cartoonish. However, despite these blaring faults there were a few shining aspects. A tense cabin fight around the two-
hour mark was exquisitely choreographed and visually gripping. Elevated perfectly by the introduction fire, it enhanced the stress of failing technology in a franchise where ‘gadgets’ are its unique selling point. Perhaps the most ‘mission impossible’ aspect of the whole film, though, came later. The submarine operation had both myself and my friend viewing from behind our hands — eyes squinted and faces grimacing. Me, because an inescapable, enclosed space filled with water is a nightmare in itself (not to mention when Cruise squeezes through a torpedo tube!) and her because the groaning, shifting mammoth of an abandoned submarine set off her newly found submechanophobia. Was this film necessary? Technically, yes; the cliffhanger needed resolving. But the bloated final hour (post-Bering Sea rescue) dragged on. Cruise undeniably gives it everything, but the result feels like a sandwich with too much garnish and not enough filling: impressive in parts, but emotionally
Pride in the Frame: A Spotlight
Exeposé examines the positive and impact of Jonathan Bailey’s career
N recognition of June as pride month, we wanted to highlight an LGBTQ+ creative in the film and television industry who has been making significant waves, both in terms of their craft but also their public presence. The figure decided on is the well loved Jonathan Bailey, a seasoned theatre actor prior to coming to screen roles. He earned critical acclaim for roles in productions such as Company , where his genderswapped portrayal of Jamie earned him an Olivier Award, and King Lear , where he performed alongside Ian McKellen. More recently, he has become known for his
role as the brooding eldest brother in Netflix’s highly successful series Bridgerton
As a gay male playing the straight male lead in the second series, he effortlessly challenged outdated ideas and broke barriers around casting typicalities. In 2023, he then played a closeted political staffer in the 1950s in paramounts F ellow Travellers, which numerous critics have deemed a laudable landmark of gay storytelling.
His most recent role brought him to the forefront of the media, as Fiyero in the massive blockbuster musical Wicked: Part One , a role he will return to in late 2025. This project provides a clear example of Bailey’s
influential presence in the media, creating a solid milestone for queer actors as lead roles in mainstream, commercial cinema. In terms of public advocacy, Bailey has repeatedly spoken out about the pressure queer actors face in the industry, having been told to hide his sexuality in the early days of his career. As such, he started the Shameless Fund to support non-profit organisations that protect LGBTQ+ rights, and in an interview with The Los Angeles Times, he repeatedly encouraged self-expression, stating ‘identity is the thing that gives you the most strength and power in your life,’ because it’s the ‘one
empty. Although it was repeatedly asserted that men like Ethan Hunt ‘live and die in the shadows’, Cruise miraculously survives a fatally high fall with a malfunctioning, aflame parachute and is shown walking through a field relatively unharmed in broad daylight. Would it have perhaps hit harder if this ‘final’ mission was a gripping swan song for Hunt? Most definitely. But instead, much like the iconic catchphrase closing the IMF orders: the message of this film self-destructed.
thing people can’t take away from you.’ Bailey’s continued success and advocacy serve as a significant and powerful reminder that authenticity and talent can - and should - go hand in hand.
Review: The Last of Us — Season 2
SEASON two of HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us has finally arrived and, unfortunately, it’s been met with a largely negative reception. The first season was widely praised as a television masterpiece, adapting the game with charm and care. Season two had a lot to live up to and, sadly, it falls a bit short.
April Frain shares her thoughts on HBO’s adapation sequel
My main criticism, which has been echoed by many fans of the original games, is that Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) is not quite herself. After the five-year time skip between season one and two, you would expect the characters to have developed. However, instead of growing up, Ellie often comes across as less competent and more immature than she was as a 14-year-old.
ELLIE OFTEN COMES ACROSS AS LESS COMPETENT AND MORE IMMATURE THAN SHE WAS AS A 14-YEAR-OLD.
It’s important to note that these criticisms are not a reflection on Ramsey’s portrayal. Just as they did in the first season,
Ramsey handles the complexity of Ellie’s awkward charm and hardened trauma brilliantly. The issues with Ellie’s character stem entirely from the way she is written in this season. In both games and the show’s first season, Ellie was portrayed as precocious and resilient — able to survive each of her harrowing, near-death experiences. However, in season two, Ellie’s edge is noticeably dulled. The show occasionally loses some of its emotional weight and gritty atmosphere in favour of a more comedic tone which, while charming in moments, often comes across inappropriate for the show’s direction. This tonal shift weakens Ellie specifically as now, at around 20-years-old, she is expected to carry herself with the maturity and skill she has gained over the past five years. Instead, she often comes across as clumsy — not in the charming way she
did as a teenager, but in a way that feels jarring and inconsistent with her age. This isn’t to say that the second season is entirely without merit. Many integral moments, especially those plucked directly from the game, are executed flawlessly and with all the heart that they deserved. Despite my grievances, I still enjoyed this season and I was fully emotionally invested in the more important scenes (that is to say, I was bawling my eyes out most of the time). While season two doesn’t quite live up to the high standards of its predecessor, it is far from a complete failure. The entire cast, including the new additions, continues to shine and there are some moments of brilliance scattered throughout. I still have hope for the upcoming third season and sincerely believe the show can rediscover the magic that was so abundant in season one.
Image: Heute.at
Image:
Image: Wikimedia.org
Cinema’s starting line-up: Summer’s Heavy Hitters
Beth Casey, Screen Editor, discusses this summers mosted anticipated releases
WITH the summer holidays fast approaching — or for many university students, having already begun — cinema’s lineup for the next few months has both film fans and casual viewers gearing up with enthusiasm. To help keep on top of the busy schedule, this article will break down the most hyped and anticipated releases into their respective months, so you don’t miss out! June is particularly stocked full of goodies, and will see a number of sequels and adaptations of already established popular media. A new addition to Danny Boyle’s apocalyptic world in 28 Years Later will be released in the UK on June 20th, preceded by the long-awaited live action remake of Dreamworld’s How to Train Your Dragon (released June 9th). An F1-inspired mentorship movie starring Brad Pitt and featuring real Grand-Prix races will also arrive
June 25th. In public discussion and interviews with real Formula 1 drivers, the latter film has been deemed a movie that will excite casual F1 watchers but is likely to irritate hard-core ‘tifosi’ due to unavoidable inaccuracies so be warned!
A MOVIE THAT WILL EXCITE CASUAL F1 WATCHERS BUT IS LIKELY TO IRRITATE HARDCORE ‘TIFOSI’
Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2nd) will kick off the next month, promising a yet another ‘fresh take’ on a potentially overused franchise, followed by a reboot of an iconic hero in James Gunn’s optimistic Superman: Legacy on July 11th. Later in the month, another comic book franchise adaptation will be released on
JULY 2ND
July 25th, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach in Fantastic Four. However, this will have to seriously deliver to maintain the popularity of Marvel’s most recent release: Thunderbolts. Finally, August will see a number of new releases but also some re-released classics for those needing some comforting nostalgia. Friday the 8th is a definite day to mark in your calendars for fresh content, with three major studios releasing a variety of genres on the same weekend: Freakier Friday (Disney), The Naked Gun (Paramount), and Weapons (Warner Bros). Also coming back to UK cinemas will be My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) for its 40th anniversary, as well as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for its 20th. The rerelease of the first four films in J.K. Rowling’s franchise will no doubt serve the purpose of maintaining awareness and excitement around
Television Reviews
Athe Harry Potter HBO TV series currently believed to be released in the following few years. Overall, this summer is set to be filled with a variety of sequels, reboots, and original standalones that promise something for everyone - whether you’re chasing the thrill of new stories or revisiting beloved classics, cinema is ready to deliver a season of entertainment worth watching.
Exepose writers tell us which television releases are worth your time this month
ANDOR: SEASON 2
FREDDY PURCEL, Online Climate Editor
NDOR continues to shine in a bleak landscape of Star Wars content in its second and final series. Writer Tony Gilroy takes an interesting narrative approach by structuring each three-episode arc over a year, bridging the four-year gap to the events of Rogue One and completing Cassian Andor’s (Diego Luna) story. This extended time scale allows a broad range of characters to develop. Cassian and Bix’s (Adria Arjona) tragic romance forms the emotional core of the series, but Gilroy manages to deliver satisfying conclusions for all his characters through careful pacing and utilisation of offscreen events. Although, early episodes drag under the weight of a few too many wedding scenes.
To deepen this realism, Andor’s creators hired French actors and created a functional new language based on French phonetics, meaning the actors could even speak Ghorman offscreen. This effort pays off when the Empire’s chilling plan to dominate the planet unfolds and the viewer witnesses the destruction of the beautiful culture that is created. Like many fans, I loved the first series for its commentaries on the nature of totalitarianism and its toll on enforcers and rebels alike. The second series continues those commentaries but with the benefit of richer characters, making Andor’s final chapter some of the best storytelling Star Wars has to offer.
SIRENS
PHOEBE ANDREWS
WHEN I began to watch Sirens, a new limited series that Netflix billed as a ‘dark comedy drama’ I didn’t quite know what to expect and even as the series drew to a close, the genre was still able to shift and surprise.
ably bad decisions. The twist ending managed to shock me despite the buildup of tension throughout.
THE TWIST ENDING MANAGED TO SHOCK ME DESPITE THE BUILDUP OF TENSION THROUGHOUT
EARLY EPISODES DRAG UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A FEW TOO MANY WEDDING SCENES
Andor’s world-building stands out, particularly through the planet Ghorman that anchors the middle of the series. Each set is beautifully designed in a style reminiscent of Northern Italy, with intricate links to the planet’s silk industry.
While there were some moments that served as comedic relief, the series had a deeper tone than I initially expected – not merely playing into the dysfunctional family relationships involved for laughs, but also delving into the trauma caused by child neglect and substance abuse that can last into adulthood.
The sisters at the forefront of the series, Devon and Simone (Meghann Fahy and Milly Alcock) were realistic characters who the viewer couldn’t help but root for despite their argu-
The series’ satirist social commentary on the wealthy — in particular the uncomfortably close relationship between Simone and her boss Michaela ‘Kiki’ Kell (Julianne Moore) — created comedic elements in the early episodes with the bright visuals and fashion adding to the tranquil yet garish nature of the wealthy island residents. Initially, I thought I would have liked to have seen the creators lean into the horror elements that the hints of a cultish presence on the island gave, but after finishing the show my mind was changed. Instead, I realised the real horror was the way the women were treated by the male characters as monsters, as ‘sirens’ and as replaceable.
Image: Heute.at
Image: Wikimedia commons Image: Creative Commons
Image: Flickr Image: Heute.at
Image: Wikimedia commons
WORLD REBIRTH
SUPERMAN: LEGACY HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
Image: Deviant art, Wikimedia Commons, Deviant art
E x etera Exetera...
Let’s Talk About It...
Magdalena Kanecka discusses dealing with pet grief
OUT of all of the struggles I have faced during my three years at university, losing my childhood dog has been at the top of the list.
I have always understood that ageing and illness are normal, that it is a part of the life cycle for any being that is alive; especially in pets, who we, as humans, understand won’t live forever.
NRecipe: Veggie Carbonara
ous pinch of salt 4 minutes before the end of the cooking time.
Yet, nothing could have ever prepared me for the loss I faced when I got the call from my mum telling me our dog had to be put down; that her illness had progressed so much she was no longer living a good, happy life. The worst part of it was that I knew that her being put to sleep was the best and most logical thing to do – never would I ever have wanted her to suffer and not live to her fullest at my own comfort’s cost. But losing her meant losing such a significant bond I had to her, for I had been surrounded with her joy for over half of my life – and nothing could have warned me or prepared me for this.
TEven more so, everyone I have spoken to about it since, most of whom had also lost a pet in their lives, was truly as empathetic and understanding as it gets. Pet loss is something so detrimental, especially because the bond we have with our pets is so personal. Especially considering this was the first kind of grief I have faced in my life. To overcome this, I would love to tell you it will all go away, that you’ll stop thinking about it eventually. This was not the case for me, and I still think of my dog, Angie, almost every day. Whenever I see a dog of the same breed as her, I think of how similar she looked. Time truly does heal, and I no longer cry whenever I think about it, but there is comfort in knowing that you will never forget about them — you will simply learn to understand their lack of presence.
OW, I’d like to preface this with a message to my Italian father: Dad, I know this is the culinary equivalent of blasphemy, but trust me — it’s worth it. And once you guys have tried it, you’ll agree — especially if you’re a vegetar ian like me, who misses the sweet sweet joys of bacon and finds veggie alternatives always lacking.
Step 1:
If you’re familiar with the tradition al carbonara recipe, great! You’re just switch ing out some ingredients here — but start off by putting 1.5 egg yolks (I’ll allow you to chuck in the whites too, unless you’re planning on making meringues later) per serve into a bowl with as much black pepper as your heart desires (unfortunately for my dinner guests, this often leads to the dish actually becoming reasonably spicy), and salt of course. Ideally you’d add a handful of grated Pecorino (cries of joy from the lactose intolerant crowd) to this mix, but — let’s face it — personal budget cuts may call for a cheaper cheese, and as long as you’re happy then the dish is happy.
Step 2:
Step 3:
During this time, you are going to get creative with the sauce; grab some mushrooms and halloumi, chop them up as finely as you like, and fry them up to your taste (I love drowning them in garlic - but that’s about as unorthodox as adding onion!). I like mine a little charred so I can pretend it’s guanciale…
Step 4:
Once everything is done, drain your pasta, and add it to the saucepan with your halloumi/mushroom contraption, and let the lot cool a little before adding your cheesy egg yolk mixture so it doesn’t scramble immediately, and serve up! I would add some extra pepper here for good measure, but I can hear some of you complaining already — eat while hot, and don’t mention my tips to any Italians in the vicinity.
Emily Sara Rizzo, Editor-in-Chief
In the meantime you should probably be cooking the pasta — now, I’m sure many of you go about this in such a way that would kill my nonna on the spot. SO, just to set it right; bring your water to a boil, add the pasta (spaghetti ideally, but rigatoni and mezze maniche are allowed), cook it for the time it says it will take to cook (none of that standing by the pot eating a piece every two minutes to check if it’s done), and add a gener-
Exeposé archives: 2001 Occupation
HE history of protest is rich and incredibly common. You might not think twice about a protest happening on campus, because they always have. From the frequent protests on campus and the encampment that happened last year, protests are a big part of student life, even if you yourself never partake. You may not have thought about how protesting has always been intertwined into student life, but some past editions of Exeposé show us how it’s always been a part of the Exeter experience. In 2001, the front cover of Exeposé discusses a recent occupation of the ViceChancellor’s office. The office was occupied by over forty students as they marked
a day of protest in aid of the human rights violations being carried out in Burma (now known as Myanmar). The protesters also called for the resignation for the Chancellor — Lord Alexander of Weedom — because of his links to Burma as a non-executive director apart of a company that was financing an oil pipeline through the country. Police and security met the group of protesters who were marching with signs towards Northcote house. The whole building was shut down and no one was allowed to enter. Eventually security left the scene, believing that they had warded off the planned occupation. However, they were wrong, as students returned and gained access to the building. The
students remained there throughout the night and until 8am the next morning. This 2001 issue of Exeposé reminds us that protesting has always been a vital part of student life. It also serves as a good reminder that the fight for change and what you believe in has always been an important one to have. This issue was chosen out of the archives becasue of its relation to our front page story this week.
Kayleigh Swart, Editor-in-Chief
Image: Kayleigh Swart
Image: Flickr
Image: Magdalena Kanecka
STUDY BREAK
CROSSWORD
Across
1 Begin (5)
4 Put back (7)
8 Landslide (of snow, say) (9)
9 Get older (3)
10 Eager (4)
11 Based on nature (7)
13 Certainly (6)
15 Bits (of bread) - goodness! (6)
18 Useful (7)
20 Bird’s home (4)
23 Charge (up) an engine (3)
24 Get rid of (9)
25 Wild African pig (7)
26 Gluttony (5)
Down
1 Mark left by a wound (4)
2 Stun (5)
3 Apprentice - learner (7)
4 Sprinting - hurrying (6)
5 Fold in cloth (a 6 of the word ‘plate’) (5)
6 Word formed by the letters of another in different order - ‘mar a nag’ is one of the answer (7)
7 Monocle (8)
12 Pull back (8)
14 Bring (a parcel) (7)
16 In the ___, competing with a chance of success (7)
17 Moving through the air (6)
19 New - novel (5)
21 Anaconda, for example (5)
22 Chief - principal (4)
ANSWERS
SUDOKU
TRIVIA CORNER
WHICH COUNTRY IS KNOWN AS THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD?
WHAT YEAR WAS HENIZ ESTABLISHED?
HOW MANY NOBLE GASSES ARE THERE?
WHAT OCEAN IS THE WARMEST ON AVERAGE?
Down: 1 Scar, 2 Amaze, 3 Trainee, 4 Racing, 5 Pleat, 6 Anagram, 7
Eyeglass, 12 Withdraw, 14 Deliver, 16 Running, 17 Flying, 19 Fresh, 21 Snake, 22 Head.
Trivia: Captain Steven Hiller 2. 154 3. The Boomerang Nebula 4.
Michael Jackson, Thriller and The
INTERNATIONAL EDITOR:
Jed H. Gibbins
Antoni Kałduński
Wallace and Gromit in South Korea
Gracie Moore explores why the beloved British characters are so popular in South Korea
MUCH-LOVED Aardman characters Wallace and Gromit already take the UK by storm whenever they appear on our screens but it appears they’ve been projecting a similar influence — on the other side of the world. South Korea has seen a huge upsurge in Gromit in particular being used not only as a merchandise monkeymaker, but a helpful tool for teaching English in the country.
As much as pens, keyrings, and soft toys of him can be found in Seoul as well as other large cities in the country, his use of facial expressions as a method of communication has become a useful tool in schools for teaching English.
It is thought that the two characters quickly became popular when its first episode ‘A Grand Day Out’ was imported to Korea in which Wallace and Gromit go to the moon to look for cheese.
At this time, in the 90s, many South Koreans were living in poverty and saw their ad-
venture as a journey to find the finest cuisine, rather than just mere cheese. Susan Bolsover, Aardman’s Senior Licence Manager, said about 20 to 25 per cent of the commercial revenue from Wallace and Gromit currently comes from South Korea. Bolsover said: “I think that’s one of the great things about Wallace and Gromit — because Gromit communicates everything through his face, he travels around the world because there is no language barrier.
“Wallace and Gromit are very loyal to each other and I think that’s something they really love and embrace about them as well.”
20 TO 25 PER CENT OF THE COMMERCIAL REVENUE FROM WALLACE AND GROMIT CURRENLY COMES FROM SOUTH KOREA
Graduating
ISouth Korean student, Sunwoo Chung, who studies in Bristol recalls first encountering Wallace and Gromit in primary school back in South Korea, adding that South Koreans “love dogs”. Bristolian, Lewis Hooper, who now lives in South Korea explained he was quite surprised to see Wallace and Gromit figurines in many shops when he arrived many years ago. “You have Gromit pretending to be a pilot, with the goggles, and a few different outfits to cater or upsell more of the key chains.”
It is unsurprising that Wallace and Gromit are so well-loved even far from home — their simple storylines and frequent comedic additions make it an enjoyable (and clearly educational) experience for many.
Traditions Around the World
Jed H. Gibbins, International Editor, showcases global
N Australia, the end of high school is marked by a unique rite of passage known as “Schoolies Week.” Each November, thousands of graduating Year 12 students flock to coastal destinations like the Gold Coast, Queensland, Byron Bay, New South Wales and Lorne, Victoria to celebrate finishing their final exams. While it’s not linked to education establishments, Schoolies is considered a graduation tradition for high school leavers and is deeply ingrained in Australian youth culture. The celebrations typically last one to two weeks and involve beach parties, music festivals, and social events. Many local councils and police coordinate safety measures and volunteers known as ‘Red Frogs’ provide support to reduce risks associated with alcohol, drugs, and overcrowding. Schoolies is both celebrated and criticised — seen as a symbol of freedom and transition to adulthood, but also sparking national debates about teenage behaviour, safety, and public order. Despite controversy, it remains a key cultural moment for Australian students marking the end of formal schooling. University graduation in Liechtenstein is a formal yet intimate affair, reflecting the country’s small size and close-knit
end of year graduation traditions
academic community. The University of Liechtenstein, the principalities only higher education institution, is known for its strong focus on architecture, business, and entrepreneurship. The graduation ceremony typically takes place in Vaduz, the capital, with academic staff in traditional regalia and students receive their diplomas in the presence of family, faculty, and local dignitaries. Speeches by university officials and often members of the Royal family highlight the importance of education in national development. Unlike in larger countries, graduation events here are often bilingual, German and English, due to the international student body. Celebrations are generally modest, with small receptions or dinners rather than large-scale parties. The emphasis is on academic achievement, community values, and personal accomplishment, offering a unique blend
SPEECHES BY UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS AND OFTEN MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
Prokletije Mountains - the Balkans’
Aof Alpine traditions and modern European academic culture. In Bhutan, university graduation ceremonies blend modern academic customs with rich cultural traditions. Graduates typically wear traditional Bhutanese dress, men in gho and women in kira, reflecting the country’s deep respect for its heritage. The ceremony often begins with religious blessings by monks, invoking good fortune and success for the graduates’ futures. Unlike Western-style graduations, the event places emphasis on community and spirituality, highlighting Bhutan’s national values of National Happiness and cultural preservation. Speeches from university leaders focus on social responsibility and contributing to Bhutan’s development and success. Graduates receive certificates, and celebrations include traditional music and dance performances. Family and friends join to honour the students’ achievement, building on said community spirit. Overall, Bhutan’s graduation traditions unities academic accomplishment with cultural pride, marking a meaningful rite of passage that reflects the nation’s unique identity.
Antoni Kałduński, International Editor, discusses a less known European Holiday Destination
S summer crowds swarm Europe’s better-known alpine escapes, the Prokletije Mountains — also known as the Accursed Mountains — remain one of the Balkans’ best-kept secrets. Stretching across the borders of Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo, this dramatic, jagged range offers a wilderness experience that feels almost untouched by time.
Often described as the “Alps of the Balkans,” the Prokletije are home to some of the most striking mountain scenery in Europe — towering limestone peaks, deep valleys, and emerald glacial lakes. Despite their breathtaking beauty, they remain relatively unknown outside the region. For travelers seeking to escape the beaten path, this is a rare pocket of serenity.
REMOTE VILLAGES, ALPINE MEADOWS AND RUGGED PASSES, IT OFFERS BOTH CHALLENGE AND BEAUTY
The Peaks of the Balkans Trail, a nearly 120mile cross-border hiking route, showcases the range at its most stunning. Winding through remote villages, alpine meadows, and rugged passes, it offers both challenge and beauty in equal measure. Along the way, hospitable locals open their homes to hikers, serving hearty traditional meals and sharing stories from a region shaped by both history and resilience. Unlike more developed tourist regions, infrastructure here is minimal — adding to the sense
of discovery. Whether you’re camping under starlit skies, swimming in icy mountain lakes, or hiking through mist-shrouded forests, the Prokletije offer a kind of immersive, slow travel that rewards those willing to venture beyond the ordinary — something a five-star resort in Italy, Turkey, or the South of France simply can’t replicate.
On top of this, the Balkans are among Europe’s most affordable regions, making the Prokletije an ideal summer adventure for students — budget-friendly and unforgettable. In a world where many “hidden gems” are no longer hidden, the Prokletije remain truly wild — a place where adventure still feels like adventure, and where nature’s raw beauty continues to inspire.
Image: Alex Alishevskikh, Flickr
Image: Melanie M, Flickr
Pride Month Around the World
Magdalena
Kanecka,
discusses Pride, and how it is received in Malta and Hungary
JUNE marks the month of celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride and the political progress made in equalising the rights of all genders and sexual identities. In Europe, whereas many countries have progressed, others are still lacking, with two contrasting examples being Malta, in its progressiveness, and Hungary, in its lack thereof.
THE POLITICAL PROGRESS MADE IN EQUALISING THE RIGHTS OF ALL GENDERS AND SEXUAL IDENTITIES
Acccording to the widely accredited ILGA Europe Rainbow Map rankings, Malta has consistently ranked in first place for the past decade, scoring 88.8% in terms of its LGBTQ+
acceptance and progressiveness. Pride month and LGBTQ+ identities are widely accepted and celebrated, despite only 1.6% of the Maltese population openly identifying as queer, in contrast to a rough 5.5% of the overall population.
On the other hand, however, within the same rankings, Hungary’s score fell the most in the past year, with the country dropping to 37th place in Europe. This comes after the Hungarian government passed a legal amendment to ban all LGBTQ+ gatherings, including those related to Pride Month, allowing authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attendees and fine them for attending such events. This has been justified under the case of “protecting children” and only recognising two genders, with no possibility for transgender people to self-identify or change their legal names.
In both both countries listed, violence
against members of the LGBTQ+ community persists, and the work of the community in celebrating our identities is far from over. In the UK, which has seen the second biggest drop in the recent ILGA Rainbow ranking, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party recently announced that only two genders are to be recognised legally,
VIOLENCE
AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY PERSISTS
deliberately erasing the transgender community. While we must honour the progress made, we must also acknowledge that this has not yet gone far enough, and with the rise of far-right politics in Europe, that certain countries may be moving backwards in their equality policies.
MULTILINGUAL ARTICLE
Dzeń Jednotë Kaszëbów
Antoni Kałduński, Médzënarodny redaktor, Òmòwió Kaszëbsczi Dzeni Jednotë.
DZEŃ Jednotë Kaszëbów je wëjątkòwym swiãtem, obchodzonym co rokù 19 marca przez kaszëbską spòłecznotã w całim rejonié Pòmòrza. W 2025 rokù dzeń ten môł szczególné znaczenié – òbchodzonô bëła 787. rocznica pierszi zrëszonéj w historii wspòmnienié ò Kaszëbach. 19 marca 1238 rokù papież Grzegorz IX wëdôł bullã, w krodze nazwał ksãcza szczecińsczégò Bogusława I “ksãcziã Kaszëbów” – dux Cassubia. Té dokùment je pierszima pisaną pòtwierdzeniã ò bistnienu Kaszëbów jakò òdrãbnégò lëdu. Czëmù są Kaszëbi? To je jedna z najbarżi rôzpoznawalnëch grëp regionalnëch w Pols -
Image: Flickr
ce. Chòc są òbywatelama Polski, to òd wëkòw chòwają swòją kùlturã, jãzëk i tradicjé. Jãzëk kaszëbsczi, ùznóny za regionalny jãzëk, je nãczony w szkòłach, je òbecny w mediách i codzennym żëcym. Kaszëbi mają téż swòje lëdné strojë, muzykę, tanc, haft i kùchniã. Mimo wprzédnich wëzéw, ùdôło jima sã zachòwac mocną wëdzywòść i duma z przënaléżnoscë do swòji spòłecznotë. Główne ùroczëstoscë Dnia Jednotë Kaszëbów 2025 òdbëłë sã 23 marca w Bólszewò (gmina Wejrowò). Tradicjionalnie zôcząłë sã swiãtą mszą w kòsczele Matczi Bòżi Niestajãczi Pòmòcë w Gòscëcëno. Pò tim, farwny, radosny kòrowód mieszkóńców, zespółów regionalnëch i gòsców przemaszerowôł ùlicama do Szkołë Pòdstawowé nr 2 w Bólszewò, dzé miała miésce dalszô czãść zwësków. Kùlminacjô swiãta bëła próba ùstalenia nowégò rekòrdu Polski w wspólnym graniu na akordeonie. .
JÃZËK KASZËBSCZI, ÙZNÓNY ZA REGIONALNY
JÃZËK, JE NÃCZONY W SZKÒŁACH.
Kashubian Unity Day
Antoni Kałduński, International Editor, discusses Kashubian Unity Day.
KKASHUBIAN IS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND IS PRESENT IN THE MEDIA AND EVERYDAY LIFE
ASHUBIAN Unity Day is a special holiday celebrated annually on March 19th by the Kashubian community throughout the Pomerania region. In 2025, this day held particular significance — it marked the 787th anniversary of the first known historical mention of the Kashubians. On March 19, 1238, Pope Gregory IX issued a bull in which he referred to the Duke of Szczecin, Bogusław I, as the “Duke of Kashubia” — dux Cassubia. This document is the first written confirmation of the existence of the Kashubians as a distinct ethnic group. Who are the Kashubians? They are one of the most recognisable regional groups in Poland. Although they are Polish citizens, they have preserved their own culture, language, and traditions for centuries. Kashubian, recognised as a regional language, is taught in schools and is present in the media and everyday life. The Kashubians also have their own folk costumes, music, dance, embroidery, and cuisine. Despite external influences, they have maintained a strong sense of identity and pride in belonging to their community. The main celebrations of Kashubian Unity Day 2025 took place on March 23rd in Bolszewo (Wejherowo municipality). Traditionally, the event began with a holy mass at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Gościcino. Then, a colorful, joyful procession of residents, regional groups, and guests marched through the streets to Primary School No. 2 in Bolszewo, where the rest of the events took place. The highlight of the celebrations was an attempt to set a new Polish record for simultaneous accordion playing. As many as 315 musicians from all over Pomerania participated. Although the record from 2016 (372 accordion players) was not broken, the event itself was spectacular and met with enthusiasm from both participants and spectators. Other attractions awaited participants as well: Kashubian embroidery workshops, handicraft exhibitions, art competitions, traditional Kashubian games (baśka, buczka, skat), as well as numerous folk group performances. Play zones were prepared for children, and concerts and dance shows for adults. In the evening, the star of the program was popular Kashubian influencer Karolina Stankowska. Kashubian Unity Day 2025 was not only an opportunity for celebration and fun but also for reflection on the history, culture, and future of Kashubia. It showed that Kashubian identity is thriving and is proudly passed down to future generations.
Image: Sergeant Matt Hecht, rawpixel
Image: Lubunya. via Wikimedia Commons
Image: Cassubia1238 via Wikimedia Commons
Image: Topory. via Wikimedia Commons
Image: Wikipedia
Image: fw42, Flickr
Sci-Tech
Is Ozempic the new treatment for cancer?
Magdalena Kanecka, explains new research linking weight loss drugs to cancer
BOTH obesity and diabetes are associated with increased risk of up to 13 different types of cancer, named by medical professionals as obesity-related cancers (ORCs); the most commontypes of this are postmenopausal breast cancer, colorectal cancer and cancer of the uterus. To this, recent research has suggested that weight loss injection drugs can reduce the risk of ORCs by up to 41 per cent when implemented alongside lifestyle and diet changes.
Weight loss injection drugs reduce the risk of ORCs by up to 41%
Many have since questioned whether weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy (brand names for semaglutide), Mounjaro (brand name for tirzepatide) or Saxenda (brand name forliraglutide) are the sole reason for this reduction, or whether it is the significant lifestyle and diet changes that result in fewer cancer diagnoses in obese patients.
The way that weight loss injection drugs work is through mimicking the body’s GLP-1 hormone, a naturally occurring hormone which
regulates blood sugar and appetite, resulting in how much, and how often, we feel hungry. Rapidly increasing insulin is another one of its functions, which explains why drugs like Ozempic serve a large percentage of type 2 diabetes patients.
Another solution which has been discussed for reducing obesity and reducing ORCs is bariatric surgery, which works by altering the digestive system to reduce stomach size and consequently limit food intake. This has been tested alongside those taking weight loss injections, with the procedure also doubling the weight loss compared to those on weight loss medication. Scientists in Malaga, Spain, have further concluded that losing weight is not the only factor in reducing cancer, and that weight loss injections mimicking the GLP-1 hormone can have some anti-cancer benefits. These findings suggest that the biological impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists may extend beyond weight management, potentially linking to cellular processes that lead to tumour development and progression, especially in inflammation-prone environments within our bodies.
Professor and cancer research expert Mark Lawler from Queen’s University Belfast has added that “biologically, this makes sense, as targeting GLP-1 dampens down inflammation, one of the-
hallmarks of cancer”. While there is still extensive research to be carried out in order to reach a full conclusion on the role of weight loss drugs in not only helping diabetics in insulin regulation, but also those deemed obese to not only lose weight, but also decrease their risk of being diagnosed with cancer. The presenters of the initial research, such as Dr Yael Wolff Sagy from Clalit Health Services in Tel-Aviv, Israel, have stressed that their claim is not the conclusion of any particular experiment, but rather an initial observation which should prompt the next generation of research.
This should prompt the next generation of research
Furthermore, professor and former president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity Jason Halford from the University of Leeds, has spoken out that in order for the new research proposals to reach their full potential, the drugs must also be tested on those newly diagnosed with cancer, regardless of whether it is obesity related or not, to draw accurate conclusions.
The injections are currently available on the NHS for patients with a high BMI or via privateclinics upon consultation in the UK. However, concerns have further risen over who gets access to weight loss drugs in the first place, with many celebrities and public figures taking drugs such as Ozempic despite not being diabetic or obese, simply because they are seeking a quick weight loss strategy. This has caused a quick increase in demand for the drug, despite an insufficient supplyfor those who rely on it for insulin management.
The cyber threat behind empty supermarket shelves
Amberly Wright, Deputy Editor, and Julia Szewczyk, Sci-Tech Editor, explore the cyberattacks that have hit retailers across the UK
THROUGHOUT May, the logistics firm, Peter Green Chilled, who distrubutes and transports chilled food to many big supermarkets, suffered from a string of cyber-attacks, leaving both Marks & Spencer and Co-op with e,pty shelves, after having their oporating systems comprimised and helf to randsom. But what actually is a cyberattack, and how can companies increase their cybersecurity to prevent them?
A notorious criminal group, called the Scattered Spider, have been linked to the Marks & Spencer attacks, where defrost alarms were turned off, stores were lest card-less, and online orders were unable to be processed. The
A notorious criminal group, called Scattered Spider have been linked to the Marks & Spencer attacks
group is thought to have used a Russian ransomware encryptor, called DragonForce, to hold the companies’ files hostage. Graeme Stewart, the head
of public sector at security vendor Checkpoint, says that Scattered Spider’s main method of attack is phishing- where they contact victims, such as an employees, and pretend to be an employee, to obtain login credentials from them. Once inside the system they will withdraw sensitive data, then deploy ransomware (such as DragonForce) to lock the companies systems. Following this they will demand a ransom. This can lead to major disruption to supply chain and inventory management systems, causing delays in deliveries, difficulty in tracking stock, and issues with online ordering. Subsequently, we, as the consumer, encounter shortages of goods on the shelves. Perhaps the most shocking thing about the Scattered Spider is that it seems to be run by young adults and even teenagers. Some recently arrested members were aged between 19 and 22, and it is thought that some members may be as young as 17. The group has been linked to over one hundred targeted attacks across industries since they first appeared in 2022. They, therefore, continue to pose a threat to companies.
They have been linked to over 100 attacks since 2022
There have been a range of cyperattacks worldwide, targeting larger retailers such as Harrods, Morrisons, and JBS, the largest meat processing company, who paid a randsom of £7.8million to get their oporating systems back.
So, while the targeted supermarket chains have since managed to overcome the attacks, the situation has certainly forced big companies to rethink their cybersecurity. Not only do these attacks affect profits, they also damage the trust between the company and its consumers who are worried about their personal details being stolen. There are various preventative measures that can be taken to decrease the risk of a cyberattack. Companies should train employees to recognise the signs of a possible attack as well as remind them not to share confidential information over the phone to a non verified caller. The National Cyber Se -
curity Centre (NCSC) has suggested implementing Multi-Factor Authentication to make it more difficult for attackers to gain access to systems. They also suggest monitoring for flagged sign-in attempts, reviewing password reset processes, and ensuring security operation centres are capable of identifying logins from atypical sources. NCSC also stresses that attacks of this nature are becoming more and more common, and therefore all organisations need to be prepared.
Google’s Threat Intelligence
Group has also recently released guidance on how to stay protected specifically against Scattered Spider intrusions. This includes fortifying identity and access management (IAM), strengthening endpoint and network security, and preparing robust incident response and recovery plans. The most important thing for companies to do is to evolve, modernise, and strengthen their cybersecurity, as these criminal groups further develop their methods of cyberattack.
Celebrating the work of LGBTQ+ scientists in honour of Pride month
Annabel Gowling, Sport Editor, discusses the achievements of astronaut and physicist Sally Ride
WHEN Sally Ride launched into space aboard the Challenger in 1983, at the age of just 32, she became the first American woman, and the youngest American at the time, to make the journey. But her legacy doesn’t stop there. Decades later, after her death in 2012, the world would come to understand another powerful aspect of her identity: Sally Ride was the first known LGBTQ+ astronaut. After earning her Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University, she was
one of only six women selected in NASA’s 1978 astronaut class – the first to include women. Her mission wasn’t just scientific; it was symbolic. She shattered gender stereotypes in one of the most male-dominatedfields of the time, famously brushing off a reporter who asked if she cried when things went wrong in training. But perhaps the most significant barriers she navigated were the ones no one saw. Sally Ride kept her personal life private. For 27 years, she was in a committed relationship with her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, and
the truth about her sexuality wasn’t publicly known until her obituary, written by O’Shaughnessy, quietly confirmed it. In the face of a deeply homophobic culture, especially within a government institution like NASA, Ride chose silence as a form of self-protection, and for many years she didn’t feel safe being out. It’s worth recognizing how much she risked simply by exising as her-
Julia
AHer mission wasn’t just scientific; it was symbolic
self in spaces that weren’t made for her. At the time, being openly gay could have ended her career or barred her fromflying at all. Her quiet courage meant a lot to LGBTQ+ people in STEM and beyond, many of whom still face discrimination today.
After retiring from NASA, Ride continued to break new ground, cofounding Sally Ride Science to promote STEM education for young people, especially girls. She wanted to inspire the next generation to reach for the stars, literally and figuratively.
Sally Ride didn’t just open the
hatch to space for women; she helped crack open the broader conversation about who gets to be a scientist, an astronaut, a role model. She never got to celebrate her full self publicly, but in honouring her today, we can.
Szewczyk, Sci-Tech Editor, discusses the achievements of Alan Turing, Nergis Mavalvala, and Alan L.
LAN Turing is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the field of computer science, having pioneered the universal Turing Machine – a mathematical model which is still fundamental to the modern computers we use today. During World War II, he applied his algorithm theory while working as a codebreaker for the British Government at Bletchley Park. Building on the work of Polish mathematicians, Turing helped develop a machine capable of scanning through nearly 159 billion
NERGIS Mavalvala is an openly queer PakistaniAmerican astrophysicist. She is best known as a pioneer in the detection of gravitational waves and of quantum measurement science. Alongside her doctoral advisor, Rainer Weiss, she assisted in the development of the gravitational-wave detector technologies that are at the heart of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
ALAN L. Hart is renowned for his contributions to revolutionising the fields of radiology and tuberculosis research. He was the first to suggest the use of x-rays for the early detection of tuberculosis, for which he established screening clinics in rural areas. This significantly improved recovery rates for the disease, as well as paved the way for diagnostic techniques still used in modern medicine today.
Despite these groundbreaking contributions to the field of medical
possible encryption schemes of the German Enigma machine. This enabled the UK and its allies to quickly decode German naval and military intelligence, something which many regard as being a key turning point in the war. In fact, some estimates suggest that Turing’s work decreased the length of the war by two to four years, subsequently saving millions of lives. After the war he published his most famous paper titled “Can machines think?” in which he compared the outputs of humans and machines. This was a key contribution
Observatory (LIGO). LIGO is a USbased scientific project designed to detect gravitational waves – ripples in spacetime predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. This has allowed researchers to observe objects in the universe that are not visible with light. In 2017, Weiss and his colleagues received the Nobel Prize in physics, the discoveries for which would not have been possible without the LIGO discoveries.
science, he was subject to discrimination due to his gender identity, which resulted in numerous personal and professional challenges. Hart was assigned female at birth and went on to become one of the first figures in science to undergo genderconfirmation surgery. In fact, it is thought he was the first documented person to undergo such a surgery in the United States. Unfortunately, after his colleagues publicly revealed that he was a transgender man, his medical practice was shut down.
to the field of Artificial Intelligence
Despite these achievements, in 1952 Turing was convicted for having a sexual relationship with a man, and, as a result, found guilty of “gross indecency”. He was given the choice of going to jail or undergoing hormone treatment therapy as a form of chemical castration, of which he chose the latter. Two years later he was found dead as a result of suicide by cyanide poisoning at the age of just 41.
In 2013, Turing was posthumously pardoned for his conviction, and in
Alongside her work as a scientist Mavalvala is also a dedicated role model for women and the LGBTQ+ community. In 2014, she was named the LGBTQ Scientist of the Year by the National Organisation of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. She actively mentors young scientists from underrepresented backgrounds, emphasising the importance of inclusivity in STEM fields.
2017 this was extended to pardon all gay men convicted under such historical legislation. The life of Alan Turing is a prime example of the harm caused by systemic discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, where even extraordinary contributions to society could not protect a person from persecution, humiliation, and tragic consequences simply because of their identity.
To learn more about Turing, I would highly recommend the film The Imitation Game (2014) which follows his life through
She is currently serving as the Dean of MIT’s School of Science, where she continues to inspire through her scientific contributions and commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment. Her journey exemplifies how passion and perseverance can lead to monumental achievements, both in science and societal progress.
Hart subsequently emerged as an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in STEM.
Beyond his medical career, Hart was also an accomplished writer, publishing four novels that often explored themes related to medicine and social issues. His literary work provided insight into the challenges faced by individuals navigating complex personal and professional landscapes in the early 20th century.
It is thanks to the perseverance of scientists like Hart, that the field of STEM is now a more inclusive space for people of all diverse backgrounds, to pioneer scientific discoveries while living openly as their true selves. Hart lived authentically during a time of limited understanding and acceptance. As a result his life story continues to inspire and inform discussions on gender identity and the importance of inclusivity in all fields of science.
his academic achievements to his eventual conviction and death.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Image: Store medisinske leksikon
Image: PICRYL
Crystal Palace's Historic FA Cup Win
Mikhail Shklover, features a match report on Crystal Palace's triumph over Manchester City in the FA Cup Final
IT has truly been a year for the underdogs, with fairytale stories and disrupted power dynamics in European football. Crucially, the current campaign became a season of firsts for numerous clubs in the top five leagues (and beyond). Initially, it was Newcastle and their historic Wembley victory in the Carabao Cup final that set the scene for future underdog stories. Nevertheless, even more surprises unfolded in the season finale during the month of May. Here are just a few remarkable chapters from this unforgettable season: Stuttgart and their triumph in the DFB Pokal, Bologna and their first piece of silverware in 51 years, Union Saint-Gilloise and their first league title in almost a century.
My personal favourite is the story of Holland’s Go Ahead Eagles and their penalty shootout victory over favourites AZ Alkmaar –a first trophy in 92 years! Furthermore, at the time of writing, PSG and Tottenham have also ended their respective European droughts with their recent Champions and Europa League triumphs. However, one team saw major silverware for the first time in history! In fact, Crystal Palace’s stunning victory in the FA Cup became this season’s most unforeseen and memorable underdog story. Nine years after falling short at the final hurdle of the competition, the Eagles finally got it right in 2025, with the 1–0 victory over Pep’s Man City, becoming a day of glory.
While City's inconsistent form throughout
This season's most unforseen and memorable underdog story
the campaign and Pep’s unorthodox midfield selection in the final provided Palace supporters with plenty of optimism, the victory of Glasner’s side occurred against the odds. Palace’s only goal took place on the fifteenminute mark as Eberechi Eze capitalised on a cross by Daniel Muñoz from the righthand side. Eze’s successful strike certainly came against the run of play after the early Manchester City pressure, after Dean Henderson denied Haaland and Gvardiol. The England international soon became the key figure in the game, although the eventual clean sheet followed some controversy. According to the majority of pundits, the keeper was extremely
lucky to remain on the pitch following a handball incident outside of the box. However, having narrowly avoided a red card, Henderson soon became the outstanding performer. City’s golden chance came from the penalty spot, and Haaland's surprising decision of stepping away from responsibility handed the opportunity to Omar Marmoush.
While the Egyptian's penalty was placed straight into the corner, the number 7 was denied by the heroics of Henderson, who continued on in his quest for an FA Cup final clean sheet. Soon, Palace's keeper would also save Jeremy Doku’s curling effort, allowing Palace to maintain a half-time lead. The second half can be seen as a carbon copy of the first 45, with continuous attempts from Manchester City, constant involvement of Henderson, and sharp counterattacks from Palace. In fact, Glasner’s side almost doubled their lead
through Muñoz, who pounced in the penalty box after a long through and a penalty box scramble. The remainder of the game involved City’s final goalscoring opportunities, with the best chance falling to Claudio Echeverri after a beautifully disguised ball by De Bruyne – saved by Henderson once more.
The final whistle came after an extended stoppage-time period – the Eagles had preserved the clean sheet and were no longer a trophyless club. It was Palace’s day and one they will remember forever. After 12 consecutive Premier League seasons, the South London side has earned its right for European football. With Glasner’s recent experience and success in the Europa League, Palace will certainly be
Their season was recently salvaged with a third place Premier League Finish
there to compete, even with the likely departures of several key players. As for the team in sky blue, their season was recently salvaged with a third-place Premier League finish. However, the second consecutive FA Cup final defeat signified a first trophyless campaign since 2017. Summer will certainly be a time for a rebuild
From elite swimmer to LGBTQ+ Advocate
MICHAEL Gunning is a competitive swimmer best known for participating in the 200-metre butterfly event, a tough stroke for sure! Gunning has had swimming in his blood since he was 4 years old, and he was a natural talent from the beginning, qualifying for his first national championships when he was just 12. In 2010, Michael made his Team GB debut at the LEN European Open Water Championships. Despite some career uncertainty and indecisiveness if swimming was his calling, he relocated up North after the 2012 Olympic games and continued to train at Stock port Metro High Perfor mance Centre, all the while earning a degree in Early Childhood Education. Fast forward a few years, things took a tough turn when Michael found himself amongst the 2017 Man chester Arena bombing at tack at Ariana Grande’s concert. But Michael decided to take this trauma and saw a new outlook on life, which lead him to
represent Team Jamaica (his father’s birthplace) to help promote the sport in the Carribean. In 2018, Michael missed out on the selec-
Gunning's experiences have fuelled his advocacy for change
tion for the 2018 Commonwealth Game, however he grasped this as an opportunity to focus on his personal life. He came out as gay on the E! television show The Bi Life in December 2018, becoming the Caribbean's first openly gay national team athlete. Coming out attracted some intense media attention, which lead to death threats and accusations of shaming the nation, however Gunning wanted to show to others that it is okay to be yourself, an important message we should all follow. Jamaica’s anti-gap laws impose prison sentences of up to 10 years for gay sex, and 24 months for what is termed ‘outrages on decency’. In 2022, Michael Gunning and Tom Daley visited Jamaica for Daley’s BBC Documentary ‘Illegal to Be Me’, where Gunning admitted to being
scared and found it heartbreaking for those in Jamaica, who have come out to him, but are unable to come out to their families for fear of rejection and being arrested.
Gunning ‘s experiences have fuelled his advocacy for change. He has a been a vocal advocate for inclusivity, contributing to campaigns such as speedo’s Swim United, which tackles the UK’s swimming problem through pop-up pools. He has also won the Pride
He proudly serves as a pride house ambassador for the upcoming LA Olympics
Award at the Attitude Pride Awards for his efforts in supporting LGBT sport globally. And the future looks bright for Gunning
and his efforts for inclusivity in sports. He proudly serves as a Pride House Ambassador for the upcoming LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, working to ensure all athletes feel safe and included during the Games and beyond. I’m excited to see where his career will take him, whether being a pundit and presenter for future swimming events, or steering towards a back seat role, I’m sure hisdedication to fostering an inclusive space for all in sport will be at the forefront of anything he does.
Image: Geograph
Image: Flickr
mage: Heute.at
The Rising cost of being a sports fan
Eloise Grainger, discusses how the clost of supporting our favourite sports teams has sky rocketed
BEING a sports fan in 2025 is hard. If you’re a football fan, the price of a pint is pitiful. If you’re a tennis fan, there is often travelling to follow your favourite player. And if you’re a Formula One fan then good luck even getting anywhere without spending almost a grand.
Elite sports across the globe are increasingly expensive; Sport is a business, and that means commercialisation and revenue growth. The aim is to maximise revenue through ticket sales, sponsorship, media rights and merchandise, which passes higher costs to the fans.
The media, through which fans who
FSport is a business, and that means commercialisation
can’t be at games or events in person interact with the sport, has become increasingly fragmented. Fans often need to pay for several subscriptions that span several streaming platforms just to follow one sport, especially across leagues or regions. As a football fan myself, I know the pain of switching between Sky Sports, TNT, Discovery+, and Amazon Prime just to catch some Eu-
ropean action. Paywalls have replaced what used to be free-to-air or cable-only access.
Even attending in person is becoming harder, as fans often get priced out of the best seats due to dynamic pricing and premium experience packages – think VIP lounges, club seats, and fan zones. As a West Ham fan, I’ve had a season ticket for the past nine years… now that I am about to graduate, I have reached the full priced adult ticket bracket rather than the under 21, which has significantly increased the price by several hundred pounds.
And just like everything else, inflation hasn’t helped either. With operational
Can UK sport survive climate change?
Annabel Gowling, Sports Editor, explores how climate change is impacting sport
ROM waterlogged football pitches to historic golf courses slipping into the sea, climate change is no longer a distant threat to UK sport – it is a present-day crisis reshaping the games we love. A new report by The Climate Coalition paints a stark picture of how extreme weather, rising sea levels, and shifting seasons are affecting everything from grassroots clubs to major championships.
Cricket is described as the sport “hardest hit,” with increasingly frequent rain delays and abandonments threatening both player development and commercial viability. Glamorgan County Cricket Club has lost
over 1,300 hours of play due to rain since 2000, translating into an estimated £1 million in financial damage. Nationally, the number of people playing cricket weekly has fallen by around 40,000 in a decade, while over a quarter of England’s home one-day internationals since 2000 have been affected by weather.
Cricket is described as the sport "hardest hit"
Football, too, is under pressure. Grassroots clubs lose an average of five weeks per season to unplayable
conditions, with more than a third losing up to three months. Carlisle United’s 2015 flooding ordeal, which forced the club out of its stadium for 49 days, cost nearly £200,000 – climate modelling suggests that Storm Desmond was made 59% more by climate change. In response, the FA has pledged £48 million to upgrade over 200 pitches and create new allweather facilities in 30 cities, but many local clubs still struggle with outdated or inadequate infrastructure.
Most alarming is the threat facing the UK’s historic links golf courses.
St Andrews, Royal Troon, and Montrose – one of the world’s oldest golf venues – are under threat from
rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Research by Dundee University shows the North Sea has advanced 70 metres toward Montrose in just 30 years. According to Montrose Golf Links director Chris Curnin, “We could lose 5–10 metres over just a couple of days.” The R&A and other governing bodies are promoting sustainability but acknowledge that wider policy changes are essential to safeguard these coastal venues.
The impact does not end there.
The Scottish skiing industry, worth £700 million annually, faces collapse within 50 years due to rising temperatures and shrinking snowfall. Some resorts now spend over half
their budgets on artificial snowmaking just to stay operational. While clubs like Manchester United and Lord’s Cricket Ground are leading on sustainability – recycling water, creating nature reserves, and cutting emissions – many governing bodies and lower-league clubs lack the resources for robust adaptation.
In short, UK sport is grappling with climate disruption on all fronts. The initiatives underway are promising, but unless they expand quickly and equitably, the future of many beloved games may be cut short – not by lack of interest, but by the changing climate itself.
World snooker championship at risk in the UK
Stephen Bellars, investigates the commercial pressures from abroad facing Snooker amid venue concerns
WATCHED by millions across the globe, the World Snooker Championship is the sport’s biggest and most prestigious event. It has been held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield since 1977, however its contract to host the event will expire in 2027, sparking speculation that it could move to a global bidder such as China or Saudi Arabia.
The Crucible Theatre is an historic venue for snooker. Indeed, it was here that Alex Higgins cleared up from 1514 and 59-0 down with a ludicrous display in 1982, and it was here that Dennis Taylor defeated Steve Davis on the final black ball in front of a television audience of 18.5 million in 1985. Many players see the Crucible as more than just a venue. Ronnie O’Sullivan, who many argue is the sport’s greatest ever player, has called it a “spiritual home” for snooker. Despite this iconic status among players and fans, the
venue is small, with under 1000 seats. It also lacks modern commercial facilities, a concern for World Snooker Tour’s Barry Hearn, who has suggested that the sport needs to evolve or risk falling behind financially.
In contrast, China and Saudi Arabia offer larger venues and state-ofthe-art facilities. There is a growing international appetite for snooker, especially in China where it’s becoming increasingly popular. Saudi Arabian interest in snooker reflects their involvement in the wider global sports economy, given recent investment in LIV Golf, WWE, and numerous football clubs. With British sports bodies being increasingly unable to match financial incentives from abroad, China and Saudi Arabia are credible threats.
Henceforth, this uncertainty surrounding the future of the World Snooker Championship is not an isolated case. Increasingly, traditional British venues, clubs, and competitions rooted in UK history are under pressure from international bidders. Football is the most striking example. The Premier League, though born in England, is now a global product with foreign ownership of most clubs and overseas tours prioritised for
revenue. Tennis, too, has faced calls to update facilities at Wimbledon to match newer venue abroad. Even in cricket, the rise of franchise-based T20 leagues like the IPL and Saudibacked leagues has forced the ECB to rethink the domestic calendar to stay competitive. In each case, global competition is pushing British institutions to modernise. Otherwise, the UK risk losings prestige and influence. Snooker, though smaller in profile when compared with football, tennis, or cricket, is now squarely in this crossfire.
Sheffield has long benefited economically from hosting the tournament, from tourism to media coverage. Losing the championship would deal a blow to the city’s identity and its annual sporting calendar, which
currently revolves around snooker each spring. Furthermore, the future of the World Championship represents a question of identity – whether Britain must do more to protect its sport ing heritage, or adapt to global markets. Local pride, tourism, culture, and global image are at risk. Nevertheless, this challenge from international markets presents an opportunity. Rather than losing the Championship altogether, the UK could explore alternatives, such as building a modern, larger venue that retains the Crucible’s intimacy. It would require investment, but it could offer a way to evolve while retaining what makes the event so special. Ultimately, the next two years will be pivotal. Whether the Crucible can be saved will define not only the future of snooker, but Britain’s place in a rapidly shifting global sporting order.
costs increasing, the rising costs are felt by the fans in the form of higher prices.
Image: Flickrt
mage: Flickr
Sport
Women’s sport in London 2025
Amberly Wright, Print Deputy Editor,
explores the range of sporting events this summer, and what it means for women.
WOMEN’S sport has always fallen behind men’s, however hard we try. Our own capital city, London, will transform into a hub of women’s sport this summer, as the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, the WTA 500 tennis tournament, and women’s cricket competitions, all take place across the city in the coming months.
We have already seen Chelsea’s women take their sixth consecutive Women’s Super League win this year, with London City Lionesses taking the win of the second division.
The Women’s Rugby World Cup, will take place in the UK, between August 22nd and September 27th. There are 4 pools with 16 teams in total. The first match is from pool A, where England will take on USA on the Friday at 7:30, at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. As well as the Bronze final, and the Final, taking place in London, matches will played all over the country, with some at the
Exeter Chief’s home ground, Sandy Park, including the quarter finals!
If you fancy some hockey, you can head down to Lee Valley to see the FIH Pro League. Though there are men’s matches too, the women’s teams are sure to not disappoint, with numerous Exeter alumni in the GB women’s team, and many players from the squad that won gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and Bronze in the Tokyo Olympics in 2022. I will be heading there this year, for the third year in a row, something which my dad and I have made a tradition.
Hockey, particularly women’s hockey, has seen a lot of development in recent years. Female players can now make the decision to wear shorts, skorts, or skirts, instead of only being allowed to wear skorts, in major competitions. This was introduced as part of their Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework in 2022, ensuring all players feel comfortable and have autonomy over their bodies. The introduc -
tion of new kit would not have been possible without the advocacy and work by Tess Howard, England and GB player. Her research paper revealed 3 in 4 women have seen girls drop-out of sport due to body image and sports kit concerns, fuelled by the harmful gender and body stereotypes in sport. She feels sportswear and team kit is “a powerful tool for identity, belonging, and for confidence”, which empowered her to create change.
The Diamond League will make its return to the London Stadium on July 19th, seeing track and field events full of Olympic medallists.
“Team kit is a powerful tool for identity, belonging, and confidence”
Continuing the theme of worldclass athletes, the NFL international series will see several matches played
at Tottenham, Hotspur stadium each year until 2029, hosting teams such as the New York Jets. This variety of sport ensures there is something for everyone, representing a range of genders, sporting events, and body types, in London this summer.
As well as good female representation in sport, the London Mayor has set out several ways in which sport will benefit the city, including economic impact, global reach, environmental sustainability, and social integration.
Seeing inspirational sportswomen play is vital for young athletes and grassroot sports. Women are underrepresented in sport worldwide, leading to less female participation. Women In Sport estimate that only 30% of parents believe playing sport is important for their daughters, contrasting to 41% of parents who it is important for their sons, and young girls, as young as 5, believe they do not belong in sport compared to their
male counterparts. Though the Paris Olympics was the most diverse event yet, there is still a long way to go. Women’s sport is not nearly as televised, and there is a large gender pay gap between female and male athletes, as well as fewer sponsorships and reduced training conditions and opportunities.
Economic impact, global reach, environmental sustainability, and social integration
The vast amount of sport in London 2025 will inspire girls to participate in sport and increase exposure and funding for all women’s teams. This allows for grassroot clubs to set up with adequate participation, allowing them to inspire young women to partake in sport, no matter what society says.
Women’s Euro 2025 Squad announcements
Amberly Wright, Print Deputy Editor, discusses the Euro 2025 Womens Team
ENGLAND Women’s Head
Coach, Sarina Wiegman, has just announced her 23-player squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 competition in Swizerland, which features some controversial decisions.
Once of her most questioned decisions is her choice to include Lauren James, Chelsea forward. Despite concerns, she reassures the press that James is “not a risk,” and that she is training really well and is
at the point they had expected her to be, despite her injury, which has left her unable to play since April. Michelle Agyemang, who plays for Brighton and is on loan from Arsenal, with be making her debut this summer. Wiegman is happy with her choice, explaining that Agyemang brings “something different [and is] really strong upfront.” She has shown physicality, with her goal in Belgium, and is a wildcard whose ability is unbeknown to the other teams.
There are questions has to whether the Lionesses team this year is younger and more inexperienced than prior years, with players who have previously won titles for England, retiring, such as goalkeeper Mary Earps, and midfielder Fran Kirby, who were staples to the Lionesses. Wiegman explains her choices, justifying that 16 of the players have played a major tournament, and those who haven’t are just as eager to get playing, as their
predecessors were. Unfortunately, Millie Bright, the 2023 World Cup Captain, has had to withdraw, due to her mental and physical health. More discourse arose when it was announced that the women’s squad would only be getting 23 players, instead of the 26 that the men’s team gets. This is just one of many discrepancies that women face in sport, however, Wiegman is happy with her 23, and believes her squad has a good mix of abilities and different qualities.
Annabel Gowling